STORY:
Delay in Spinning Wheel

Problems with raising Millennium wheel may prevent spinning into next century

London's Millennium Wheel may miss its official New Year's Eve opening as the next attempt to raise the structure into position was delayed for at least a month. It suppose to be a centerpiece for London's New Year's Eve activities.

The 1,500-ton wheel is still lying across the Thames near Big Ben, exactly where it was when crowds of onlookers and television cameras from all over the world gathered on Friday to watch the raising of the Millennium Wheel.

After a frustrating series of holdups, the lift was abandoned in late afternoon. Engineers determined that the main problem was a cable disengaging from a bracket. A spokesperson for the Wheel's sponsor, British Airways says work needs to be done on redesigning a faulty cable bracket that a new attempt may not take place before the middle of October.

Questions have been raised regarding the wheel taking it's first spin before New Year's Eve since it will take several months to complete construction of the wheel after it's raised.

The Wheel's architect David Marks told This Is London that the wheel raising was a unique operation that nobody had ever tried to do. Marks said some temporary cables came loose during the test and they need to be altered but nothing broke or snapped, no one was hurt and there was no failure in the structure of the wheel itself.

Described by British Airways as the world's tallest observation wheel, it is due to open to the public in early January. Riders will be able to see for 25 miles across London when they reach the top.

DATE: 9/13/99

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