Mace starts testing Thames cable car

Grant Prior 13 years ago
Share

Mace has started testing work on its cable car project across the Thames after reaching a major construction milestone earlier this month.

The main contractor has now completed the erection of all three towers and the installation of a 1.1km long stretch of steel cable across the River Thames.

Matt Randall, Project Director for Mace, said: “Now the cable has been tensioned to the correct height, the next step will be to commence the testing of the whole system.”

The 34 cabins will undergo a rigorous testing process which will involve hours of running the cables and cabins across the river before it is due to open for passenger service this summer.

Randall said: “The pull of the cable across the Thames has been a highly complex and intricate part of the construction of this landmark project.

“We used boats to make the initial rope connection during the short night-time window when the tide was at its lowest, working with the Port of London Authority to keep the river way clear, and this was eventually replaced with the cable itself.

Main construction works on the UK’s first urban cable car have been taking place either side of the river since July 2011.

The three main towers will allow 34 cabins to cross the river at heights of up to 90 metres between the two terminals, Emirates Greenwich Peninsula and Emirates Royal Docks.

The three towers were manufactured in Bolton by Watson Steel and have been erected in sections via crane.

At around 90m tall, the South Tower is the only tower to have been built in the River Thames next to the O2.

The cabling is made of twisted steel comprised of nearly 300 separate strands of steel and 50mm thick.

It was pulled into place and tensioned using a 12-tonne winch located on the platform of the South Terminal (Emirates Greenwich Peninsula).

Latest news

Breyer Group battles for survival as rivals circle

Housing maintenance firm fights three winding up petitions in a month
19 hours ago

Galliford Try gets go-ahead for Milton Keynes PRS tower

33-storey tower needs gateway 2 approval before work can start
13 hours ago

Careys facing £2.4m claim by developer over demolition cartel

Giant Hong Kong developer claims it was overcharged on Lots Road Power Station job
19 hours ago

Lendlease Construction renamed Bovis

US private equity firm completes £35m purchase of UK contracting business and rebrands
18 hours ago

Multiplex profit drops a third as revenue rises to £780m

Spate of new orders sets contractor up for three years of work
18 hours ago

Galliford Try and Breheny land latest Sizewell C road deals

More infrastructure deals for new nuclear power station
1 day ago

Worker trapped in collapsed septic tank pit

Contractor and director fined after worker suffers multiple fractures
19 hours ago

Homes England buys stalled Broad Marsh site

Demolition to finally be completed as developer hunt begins
1 day ago

Vistry go-ahead for 353 homes at Rochester Riverside

Work to start on next phase of Kent town regeneration at end of this year
2 days ago

M&E firm J S Wright collapsed owing £19m

Trade creditors hit for £11.4m by employee-owned Midlands firm
2 days ago

Right to work checks to be extended to self-employed

Government plans crackdown on illegal working and rogue employers
2 days ago

Midlands developer turns to London with £1bn resi schemes trio

SevenCapital plans 1,000 flats in Kensington, Islington and the Isle of Dogs projects
2 days ago

Deck falls off huge scissor lift at Winvic site

Two men seriously injured as platform plunges to the ground
4 days ago

Weston targets Build to Rent with new division

Weston Partnerships signs first deals with asset managers and councils
2 days ago

Bouygues seals deal for £119m Cardiff college campus

Construction to start in June on two new buildings
5 days ago

£140m cash injection to speed-up flood defence schemes

Funding part of £2.65bn investment over the next two years
2 days ago

Bid race starts for £15bn schools framework refresh

DfE throws framework open to more contractors
5 days ago

Berkeley’s £600m Borough Triangle project approved

Controversial scheme features two towers of 38 and 44-storeys
5 days ago

London Mayor calls in blocked 600-bed student scheme

Refused 20-storey London PBSA block may still be built
5 days ago

HG to build 500-bed London Stratford student scheme

Work will start later this year subject to gateway 2 safety approval
5 days ago

Arrest after pedestrian death on construction site

Tragedy during site preparation works for new Wigan car park
5 days ago

British Steel threatens closure of Scunthorpe blast furnaces

Chinese owners say sectional steel and rail supplies will be maintained
6 days ago

Planning green light for Sheffield warehouse site

Existing factories to be demolished in new scheme for Rula Developments
5 days ago

New rail property company to unlock land for 40,000 homes

First four sites released in Newcastle, Cambridge, Manchester, and Nottingham
6 days ago

Drainage specialist Subscan files administration notice

Specialist employing 131 people files court notice
6 days ago

Four win Network Rail £300m engineering design deal

Eastern region deal will include design for Northern Powerhouse Rail
6 days ago

Funding go-ahead for Banwell bypass after fresh cost hike

Galliford Try contract rises £14m to £64m after final design change
6 days ago

Graham wins Southport £75m Marine Lakes Centre

Firm replaces Kier which parted ways with backer Sefton Council
6 days ago

Chancellor unveils extra £2bn capital spend a year

Construction promised a defence dividend in military base and homes upgrade work
6 days ago

McLaren confirms subcontractor team on £135m warehouse job

Work starts on TN2 Gateway site in Kent.
7 days ago

Contractor services