The checkered flag for the 42nd Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach is two months away, but the green flag to start construction on the 1.97-mile street course dropped on Tuesday.
More than 14 million pounds of concrete blocks, an additional 2,400 concrete blocks that are part of the safety barrier and four miles of fencing are in the process of being installed, according to NBCLosAngeles.com.
Also still to be constructed are 15 sections of spectator grandstands, seven pedestrian bridges across various parts of the track, seven vision boards that will capture action around the track, and 17,000 tires that will be bolted together to provide another element of safety.
The race weekend extends from April 15-17 and will include the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race, Pirelli World Challenge, SPEED Energy Stadium Super Trucks, Motegi Racing Super Drift Challenge, the IMSA Sports Car Grand Prix and the Long Beach Grand Prix the hallmark event.
Anticipation of the event is already being seen on Twitter:
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Track construction has begun! Thanks for helping out Mayor @robertgarcialb. Who's excited for the 2016 #TGPLB?
— Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach (@GPLongBeach) February 16, 2016
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I'm #wayexcited seeing this go up. The @ToyotaGPLB is coming!! #LongBeach #IndyCar #racing #motorsport pic.twitter.com/RWySdJxA6r
— Stephen Harvey 🤵 (@harvester_sol) February 17, 2016
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Construction begins for @ToyotaGPLB. Track safety barriers include 2,400 concrete blocks, 17,000 tires: https://t.co/YNcl8SRyKx
— Jonathan Lloyd (@JonLloydLA) February 17, 2016
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