First Emirates Airlines cable car tower completed
The first of three towers forming part of the ambitious cable car project which will carry visitors over the Thames has been completed, reports Construction Enquirer.
During the coming months, residents in Greenwich and the vicinity will watch as two more towers are constructed under the Emirates Airlines scheme. It was so-called due to a £36 million sponsorship deal with the airline.
At 60 metres tall, this "north intermediate tower" is the smallest steel structure and has been built by Watson Steel, which developed its unique helix shape. The project has opened up many engineering jobs, as over half of the factory's workers have been assigned to it.
Positioned near the Emirates Royal Docks terminal, the tower consists of 6,500 steel pieces; each one weighing around 30 tonnes. The two remaining towers should measure 90 metres in height.
Once in place, steel cables will be stretched between the towers at a distance of one kilometre. 34 cars will be carried on the cables; each ferrying ten passengers between Greenwich, the O2 Arena, ExCeL centre and Royal Victoria Docks.
"All credit goes to the project team who have been working round the clock seven days a week for the month of December to achieve this important milestone," said project director Matt Randall on Construction Index.
The cable car should hopefully be operational in time for the Olympic Games, though timings provided ("summer 2012") are suitably vague, says Londonist.