Site work at a new, centrally-located track and field and cross-country facility under construction for Covington County Schools system is almost complete.

Superintendent Shannon Driver said the site prep has been going on for about four weeks.

“They’ve moved a lot of dirt,” Superintendent Shannon Driver said.

In January, the board purchased 109 acres of land located of Hwy. 55 for the facility, which is within 20 to 22-minutes’ driving distance from each of the county’s high schools.

The facility will have an entrance off Hwy. 55, with bleachers on one side of the soccer-sized field to accommodate 500 people. An eight-lane track will circle the field with adjacent spaces for high jump, pole vault, long jump and triple jump events. The facility also will include a 5,000 meter cross country course.

Between the parking lot and bleachers are a concession stand and restrooms, with additional space where athletes can dress out. There are open pavilions on either end of the public areas.

First Team Construction Co., Inc. won the bid for the $3.4 million facility. Architect Walter McKee estimated they would need to move 6o,000 cubic yards of dirt.

“They’ve done a tremendous amount of work,” Driver said Friday. “They are 85 to 90 percent complete with the site work. Yesterday (Thursday) they dug the foundation footers, so they’ll be pouring concrete.”

Driver said he’s very pleased with the progress made.

“Our target completion date is the end of February,” he said. “That’s a short window, but the contractor has managed to work around the rain, and we’re making very good progress.”