Bowman County Schools’ eight-lane track has gradually deteriorated over the years to the point where it was becoming a safety concern.
By BRYCE MARTIN
Pioneer Editor | [email protected]
Bowman County Schools’ eight-lane track has gradually deteriorated over the years to the point where it was becoming a safety concern. Acknowledging the issue and its lack of options, the school decided earlier this year to move forward with the construction of a new track with a steep price tag.
The Bowman County School Board voted in March to move forward with a $650,000 project to redo the school’s track. Because of the track’s present state, administrators have opted to forgo holding any track meets at the school for the previous season.
The large-scale project to redo the track, which was constructed in the mid- to late-80s, began in late May or early June.
Constructing a new track in Bowman had been an issue discussed for several years. As the condition of the track continued to degrade, Senn began examining contingencies for Bowman’s dates to host track meets. The school didn’t let its dates go, resuming in Bowman for the 2017 track season.
The track, now finished, used a specialized form of concrete called post tension concrete, which is where steel cables go through the concrete and are pulled taught to achieve a maximum amount of stress. That would prevent any cracks from appearing. It was also given a maroon colored surface to pay homage to the school’s colors.
