The final stages

Work at the stadium is reaching its final stages. This week another three or four girders were lifted, while the installation of the PTFE membrane and aluminium cladding is continuing apace. But it is around the stadium that much of the action is occurring. One side of Fettes Road in the south has been closed, while the fence along Milner Avenue in the north has been moved out to facilitate major earthworks and landscaping. A row of columns for the covered entrance, between the stadium and North End lake, has gone up, while a temporary ablution facility and numerous container offices have been demolished/removed. All in all then, with the pitch laid and most of the seating installed and the interior finishing touches nearing completion, things are looking good indeed. 

The four corners

The north-west corner, where the first girder was lifted on October 31, last year. Note how the perimeter fence has been moved outwards to facilitate earthworks and landscaping.

The south-east corner, where the last dozen or so girders still need to be lifted. Fettes Road is being widened.

The south-west corner. The trusses have come around here in the past few weeks, while this week, work started on this section of the road.

The north-east corner. Here, cladding is continuing steadily.

Another view of the north-east corner. Note the earthworks and the jig, back where it was a few months ago, before they moved the process to the other side of the building.

With foreground palms and other trees, the beauty of the stadium's surroundings is clear in the north-east corner.

A girder is prepared on the south-east corner, where the last dozen or so need to be lifted.

Two mock-ups of the PFTE membrane (left) and perforated aluminium cladding can be seen in the foreground.

In the south-west corner, offices and other temporary buildings have been removed, while the giant Kobelco crane waits to lift the next girder.

Brick paving seems to be planned for the area around the stadium, which is being levelled here on the northern side.

Another view of the landscaping on the north-eastern side.

Seen from the north, the first row of columns for the covered entrance bridge is taking shape, while on the left cladding continues.

The columns at the entrance, seen from the south-west.

Excavation for a new road on the north-western corner. 

Another view of the new excavations.

In the north-west, they have started installing the PTFE membrane before completing the cladding installation, a new development.

Men at work - very high up! - installing the PTFE membrane.

Very close to the end product on the north-east corner. We are not quite sure whether the white strips visible at the bottom of each module will be taken all the way up, or how the gaps visible between the cladding and membrane will be closed. Only time will tell. Artists' impressions also seem to indicate that the concrete will be painted white.