The new bridge provides increased access to the finish line area of the venue and improved areas for athlete warm-up.
 
The rowing and canoe sprint events during the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games will take place at the Eton College Rowing Centre at Dorney Lake near Windsor.

Set in a 450-acre parkland, the venue currently consists of a 2,000-metre, eight-lane rowing lake, return lane and associated competition facilities.
 
Construction work, which started last September and which is due to be completed later this year, is now well underway to enhance the venue’s existing facilities to provide improved facilities for athlete warm-up and canoe sprint events during the 2012 Games.

A key part of the enhancement works has now been completed with work to widen the entrance to the return lane finished and a new 50 metre bridge lifted into place.
 
David Higgins, the chief executive of the ODA, said: "Eton College Rowing Centre is a first-class venue and the enhancements we are delivering will create the best possible facilities for the world’s best athletes to use in 2012.

"Lifting a new bridge into the finish line area completes a key part of the enhancement works and keeps us on track to deliver improved facilities well before the Games begin in 2012."
 
Sebastian Coe, the chairman of London 2012, said: "Dorney Lake is already a superb facility which will be further enhanced by this work.

"The widening of the return lane offers improved areas for athletes’ boats during warm up and cool down between races and the new bridge provides increased access to the finish line area which will be the centre of attention during the Games.

"This is a world class venue and it is exciting to see the enhanced facilities take shape."


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May 2008: Rowing and canoe contracts for 2012 put out to tender
May 2008: Re-development of Dorney Lake for 2012 Olympics approved
August 2006: Oswald impressed with London 2012 venue