PS Sidhu Trucking has been awarded the contract to build the new track and field facility behind the F.H. Collins Secondary School

Sidhu Trucking’s bid of $6.58 million was the lowest of three bids received in late May.

Johnson Builders of St. Albert, Alta., was the second lowest with a bid of $7.01 million while Wilco Civil of Langley, B.C., was the highest with a bid of $8.56 million.

Completion of the new track and field is scheduled for October, 2019.

The project includes a new eight-lane rubberized track with the interior soccer pitch made of artificial turf. It also includes new shot put and long jump facilities.

It does not provide for the other athletic disciplines of the javelin throw, discus throw and the hammer throw, as these events cannot be held on the artificial turf, and there is no other clearing large enough in the immediate area to accommodate the events.

Sport Yukon has said the throwing sports can be accommodated by simply transporting the athletes next door to the grass soccer pitch behind Selkirk Elementary School.

Sport Yukon and Elderactive Recreation Association had impressed up the Yukon government there was a need to know early this spring if funding for the project would be approved. The money was included in the March 1 territorial budget delivered to the legislature by Premier Sandy Silver.

The organizations said the new facility was needed if they planned to bid to host the 2020 Canada 55+ Games. The bid to host the Games was submitted May 31, along with bids from Fort McMurray, Alta., Kamloops, B.C. and Calgary.

The winning bid will be announced in August at this year’s Games in Saint John, N.B.

The Yukon is sending a contingent of 166 participants and cheerleaders to Saint John. The largest discipline is the track and field team of 21 athletes.