Workers are still putting the finishing touches on a 47,000 sq. ft. resurfacing project in Yates Field House, nearly a month after its planned completion date.

Despite delays, Director of Yates Field House James Gilroy said that the facility would be open by the first weekend of March.

But the project could take up to a week longer than Gilroy’s estimate, according to Karen Frank, vice president of facilities and student housing. The goal is to have the area operational by the end of spring break, she said.

Last December, workers began removing the deteriorating surfaces of the indoor track, tennis courts and stretching area in the northern portion of Yates’ main floor.

Gilroy said that the old surfacing had to be completely removed and the concrete sub-layer had to be repaired and leveled before the new surface could be installed.

The project, which was supposed to be completed by Jan. 27, was delayed due to unanticipated problems removing the old rubberized surface and leveling the concrete slab below it.

“The concrete slab was not done well during [initial] construction,” Frank said, explaining that the rubberized surfacing layer had seeped into pits and joints in the concrete.

She said that in some cases workers had to dig the old surfacing out of the slab by hand.

Gilroy said that the project “is still within the limits of the budget” although the complications have resulted in “some added costs.”

Some students said they have become frustrated with the delays.

The varsity weight room, which is temporarily housed in the segment being resurfaced, has been compacted to a small area along the gym’s west wall.

“We’re compressed,” Harrison Beacher (COL ’08), a member of the varsity football team, said. “I feel like they’ve been doing [the resurfacing] forever.”

Beacher said that the construction has also affected the football team’s agility exercises. “There’s dust everywhere and we’re slipping,” he said.

Frank also said that the construction on White-Gravenor Hall is progressing as well.

“The goal was to be able to dismantle the scaffolding during spring break,” she said.

Frank added that the work includes “masonry repairs, fume hood repairs, window replacement, stained glass window restoration and some HVAC equipment repairs.”

She said the total estimated cost for the project is $3.3 million.