The Singapore Sports Hub will be open in April 2014 following the successful completion of the highest truss (horizontal beam) - which stands 77.5m above the pitch level - of the new National Stadium.

The project's engineering and construction firm Dragages Singapore expects the facility to be operational by the end of next March, before the scheduled opening next April.

Calling it a critical milestone in the $1.33-billion, 35-hectare project, Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Lawrence Wong said: "I'm glad that we have reached this major milestone in the construction of the National Stadium. This is testament to the commitment and dedication of our partners to deliver the project on schedule. I've talked to many people in the sports community, and we are all excited about the completion of the Stadium and the Sports Hub."

Adding that the entire project is about 70 per cent completed, Ludwig Reichhold, managing director of Dragages Singapore, the engineering and construction company in charge, said: "Levering the highest truss into place is a defining point of time and a symbolic pillar in the building of the National Stadium, and keeps us on track to finish the project by April 2014."