The first look at Glasgow�s 2014 cycling venue...

THE company behind such high-profile projects as the London Olympic Stadium, the Eden Project and Arsenal's Emirates Stadium is earmarked to land the contract to deliver two key Commonwealth Games venues in Glasgow.

Sir Robert McAlpine, the building and civil engineering giant, is expected to be announced on Friday as the main contractor for both the National Indoor Sports Arena (NISA) and the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome.

The combined NISA and velodrome, which will be one of the biggest indoor sports facilities of its type in Europe, will be located on a 10.5 hectare site in the East End of Glasgow, close to Celtic Park and the Commonwealth Games Athletes' Village.

Costing almost £120m for the entire project, the indoor arena will be the principal sports facility for the Games.

The adjacent facility will be Scotland's first indoor cycling arena.

The indoor arena will have 5000 spectator seats for sporting competitions, while the velodrome will have a further 2000 seated and 500 standing spectators viewing a 250-metre cycle track.

Viewing capacity for the velodrome will be extended to 4000 for the duration of the 2014 Games, where the venue will host badminton as well as track cycling events.

The combined facility will be a national training centre for athletics, basketball, netball, track cycling and volleyball and will provide elite training and an international competition standard venue.

McAlpine has now been named the preferred bidder, with a final decision to be taken by Glasgow City Council on Friday.

The four final rival bidders are Laing O'Rourke, Bovis Lend Lease and BAM.

McAlpine have a long track record in Scotland, dating from the late 1800s with the Glasgow Subway, Clydebank's Singer factory and the Glenfinnan Viaduct and is also responsible for both Wembley Stadiums, the rejuvenated Hampden, the Mersey Tunnel, Canary Wharf and the Millennium Dome.

Steven Purcell, leader of the city council, said: "The NISA and velodrome will be world-class venues able to attract sporting competitions of the highest standard to Glasgow, as well as providing a fantastic community facility.

"The design and construction of this facility will offer employment, training and skills opportunities to local people, and will be a real asset for the city and country for decades to come."

Sports Minister Shona Robison said: "With five years to go until the opening ceremony, we continue to be on track to deliver a world class Commonwealth Games."

John Scott, chief executive of Glasgow 2014 Limited, added: "These world-class venues will facilitate elite athlete training in preparation for the Games, and leave a lasting sport and economic legacy for people in Glasgow and across Scotland."

It has also emerged that the velodrome track will be designed by the internationally renowned designer Ralph Schuermann. Mr Schuermann designed the 2008 Olympic Games velodrome in Beijing.

The facility will also be the administrative base for several other national sports federations, with other features including a community sports centre with sports halls, outdoor floodlit 5-a-side pitches, extensive health and fitness provision, indoor roller sports park, provision for cycling and a crèche. There will be dedicated and shared facilities for school use.

The construction project will require a total workforce of 200, including 20 new apprenticeship places, and 84 staff will be employed by Culture and Sport Glasgow to operate the venue.