Recent weather has set back the construction of the new outdoor pool at Juniper Swim and Fitness Center in Bend by about six weeks, according to Facility Manager Matt Mercer.

The new, Olympic-size pool was originally expected to be complete by the end of January, he said. Construction delays caused by recent snowfall and freezing temperatures, however, have pushed the projected completion date into early March.

Still, Mercer said he remains optimistic about the extensive renovation and expansion project, which will nearly double the capacity of the aging Bend facility and cost about $7.6 million.

The fitness center currently logs slightly more than 280,000 user visits per year. After the renovation and expansion, he said he expects the facility to be able to handle more than 400,000 visits.

The construction of the new fitness wing, with locker and changing rooms, an expanded weight room and several exercise rooms, began recently and remains on schedule, he said.

The addition is slated to open at the end of June.

The existing indoor pool, weight room, exercise room and spa area reopened Tuesday after a three-week closure to prepare those areas for an overhaul in the spring.

”Everything is operational and we’re basically back on a full schedule,” Mercer said.

”Our initial (project) schedule was aggressive,” he added. ”We wanted it to be aggressive because we wanted to limit the closure time.”

Once the outdoor pool and indoor addition are complete, programs using the indoor pool and existing fitness rooms will be moved, he said. The existing facilities will then be closed for renovation.

The project will also include the construction of an outdoor recreational pool, with a slide and other water park-type features.

Although the overall project is behind schedule, Mercer said the floor and walls of the 50-meter pool were installed on time. Using a swimming pool-specific material known as Myrtha, essentially stainless steel coated with PVC, sped up the process considerably.

”The pool walls can be erected in virtually any temperature in any condition. It’s when you get to the sealing work and tile and finish work, that’s more environmentally sensitive,” Mercer said. ”We worked through (the cold weather), but we had to erect tents and various things.”

The plumbing and a substantial amount of tile, trim and finish work remain to be done. An associated mechanical building must also be completed before the pool can become operational.

Mercer said the new pool should be well worth the delay.

”People (will be) basically swimming in the same pool the last two world championships have been swum in and the Olympic trials,” he said, adding that there are only about half a dozen 50-meter pools in the state. The pool cover, which will allow people to swim year-round, is unique for an Olympic-size pool.

The new pool should add some breathing room to currently crowded programs. Mercer said they will be able to serve a variety of additional users, such as the high school water polo teams.

The completion of new exercise rooms and a larger weight room will allow the fitness center to offer more dry land programs, and the expansion and upgrades in the locker rooms should make a visitor’s entire experience better, Mercer said.

”Despite the frustrations over the delays, which have been for the most part uncontrollable, I think the project is progressing quite well,” he said, ”and I think the final product will be more than worth the extra six-week wait.”

For more information and updates about the project, call 541-389-7665 or go to www .bendparksandrec.org. Information is also available at the Juniper Swim and Fitness Center front desk.