Cleavley Athletics Track
Project location: Salford
Project Overview:
The Cleavley Athletics Track in Salford, a vital community resource for athletes and sports clubs, was long overdue for an upgrade. The track’s aging infrastructure and failing floodlighting were creating safety hazards, limiting training opportunities, and hindering the local community’s ability to use the facility effectively. The goal of this project was to provide a modern solution by upgrading the lighting to LED floodlights, improving safety, accessibility, and usability for athletes of all ages and skill levels.
This project, executed with the support of Salford City Council and Salford Community Leisure, was not without its challenges. PPG Projects, working closely with Lumosa Lighting, overcame numerous logistical hurdles, extreme weather conditions, and design adjustments to deliver a world-class Sports lighting solution that would transform the track into a safe, accessible, and high-performance training facility for the local community.
Challenges:
One of the first challenges was the track’s deteriorating lighting system. The existing floodlights were failing, leaving significant dark spots around the track that posed a safety risk, especially during evening training sessions. The lighting conditions were becoming dangerous enough that some events were nearly canceled due to inadequate visibility. It was clear that a major upgrade was needed, but this came with its own set of challenges.
The location of the track added another layer of complexity. Situated near a busy motorway, the access route to the facility was narrow and tricky to navigate. This made it difficult for large delivery trucks to bring in the necessary materials and equipment, especially the 15-meter lighting columns needed to upgrade the floodlights. The tight entrance and limited access presented a major logistical challenge, one that required careful planning and precise execution to overcome.
In addition to logistical issues, the project team had to contend with Manchester’s notoriously unpredictable weather, especially since the work was carried out during the winter months. The cold, wet conditions made some aspects of the installation more difficult, especially when it came to ensuring all tasks were completed on time without compromising the quality of work.
Finally, design adjustments were necessary throughout the project. When it became clear that some lighting columns needed to be relocated, the team had to adjust the plan on the fly to maintain the correct lighting coverage. The lux levels of the lights were also reviewed and recalibrated to ensure that the track would have even light distribution with no dark spots. The flexibility and expertise of the team were critical in making these adjustments quickly and efficiently.
Key Features and Outcomes:
Despite these challenges, PPG Projects delivered a remarkable transformation. The new LED floodlights now illuminate the entire track, creating a safe, consistent, and bright training environment for athletes at all times of the day and night. With the addition of modern, energy-efficient LED lights, the track is now fully equipped to serve the local community for years to come.
A key factor in the project’s success was the unwavering support from Lumosa Lighting. Their expertise was critical in overcoming the technical challenges that arose. Lumosa Lighting provided invaluable support in making design tweaks, relocating lighting columns, and adjusting lux levels to ensure the lights provided even coverage across the track. This collaboration ensured that the final lighting solution met the precise needs of the facility, giving it the uniformity and brightness required to meet safety standards and support high-level training.
One of the most notable outcomes of the project is the immediate improvement in safety. Local sports clubs, including Salford Harriers, are now able to train safely at any time of day, knowing that the track is well-lit and free from dark spots that could lead to injury. The new lighting has also eliminated previous safety concerns, making evening training possible without the need for makeshift solutions like using car headlights.
The community response has been overwhelmingly positive. The new lighting system has not only made the track safer but has also increased the track’s usability, enabling it to be used for more events and training sessions. The feedback from athletes and clubs has been exceptional, and the project has been hailed as a major success for the local sports community.
Danielle Tudor at Salford Community Leisure said: “Since the floodlight project, we’ve had a couple of our big clubs back at the track. The feedback has been incredible – everyone says how wonderful the lights are, and it’s engaging young people. We’re now getting people on the track in the evening, which was previously impossible.”
