In just four months the Pan Am Games will begin and in Caledon, work is almost complete on a massive new facility for the equestrian competition.

Crews have been working around the clock to meet the summer deadline and so far, so good. Several new buildings, including a giant indoor riding arena have been erected as part of the Caledon Pan Am equestrian site.

“We've been able to remain under budget,” says Sherry Brake, project manager for the Town of Caledon. “We've been able to remain pretty much within our original scope of the project.”

More than $11 million has been poured into the venue. When finished, it will be one of the largest equestrian sites in Canada. The indoor facility has both a training area, and a competition ring. Just next door is an indoor stable that will house up to 72 horses throughout the games.

Electricians were on site on Monday installing overhead lighting and exit signs. Many of the workers say this project has been a bit of a fight against Mother Nature.  

“We've been building throughout the coldest months of the year, one of the coldest Februarys on record, and only recently getting the building closed in and getting the roof on and having an enclosed structure for the guys to work inside of,” says site supervisor  Jordan Cellucci.

It's not just buildings that are state-of-the-art, but also the ground the horses will compete on. The surface in the riding rings is designed to drain water quickly, especially in cases of bad weather. The mixture of sand, textiles, and natural products also makes it safer for the horses during competition.

“They give the horses the ability to have that platform, so they can leave the ground, and at the same time, provide them a nice soft landing so they are not injured,” says venue manager Craig Collins.

The goal is to finish all of the electrical work by next week. After that it will take about a month to assemble the temporary grand stands around the main riding ring – then it's landscaping and finishing touches, all with a deadline of the first week in May.

The first horses and riders competing in the Pan Am Games arrive in early July. Tickets are pretty well sold out and it's expected that nearly 32,000 people will come through the gate this summer.

CTV Barrie will have more on the Pan Am Games sites all this week.