The work on the athletic field at Mercer Island Stadium finished up this week, putting MIHS sports teams and other recreational users on the Island back into their normal schedule.

The field was originally scheduled to be finished Friday evening, but due to the weather it was delayed, but Dean Mack, the executive director of business services and human resources for the district, said the field was finished Tuesday night.

According to the district the field will be open by Friday at 3 p.m.

The new turf field at Mercer Island High School reopened after being replaced at the end of the summer. Due to the last minute work to replace the field, after it was found to be unsafe for athletes, many of the fall sports teams have yet to even practice on their home field, something players and coaches have been waiting for after the replacement threw practice schedules into a tailspin.

Last week football coach Brett Ogata said they were told the team would be able to practice on the field this week, but, as he said, until someone tells him officially he can head out there, he’s just going to wait and see. The change to the practice location was no a cause for concern for the football team.

“No one is worried about the field,” said Ogata of the football team.

Girl’s soccer coach Adam Gervis expressed some concerns about his team’s inability to access the field. He said he keeps asking, but hasn’t heard anything yet about exactly when they will be back at the high school. Gervis said part of the problem is that is has to be dry outside for portions of the work to be finished and since it’s been damp it’s slowing things down.

“It’s not in our hands,” he said. “Luckily the girls are very adaptable.”

The football team will play their first home game Friday evening beginning at 7 p.m. against Newport and the girls soccer team will take on Redmond at 1 p.m. on Saturday in Mercer Island Stadium.