STORY:
Millennium Wheel Lifted Into Place

After along delay and tense moment, giant Ferris wheel is upright in London

The massive operation to complete the giant millennium wheel in time for New Year is on schedule after its frame was successfully lifted into position on the banks of the River Thames in London. The 443 foot London Eye as it's called, more than double the height of Big Ben and may still be on schedule to open to the public by New Year's Eve.

The next step is to attach its 32 special viewing which will carry visitors high above the capital's skyline. The capsules, each weighing nine tons, are currently in storage in Dartford, Kent, and are expected to be transported up the river on barges.

The glass compartments, which will each be able to carry up to 25 people, are set to be mounted in steel support rings, rather than being fixed to the actual wheel. This allows them to rotate in an armature with the aid of two electric motors so that people inside stay on a vertical plane and enjoy uninterrupted viewing.

The 1,500-ton wheel was put in place after more than a month's delay as organizers struggled with snags, including trouble with the four miles of cable attached to its 80 spokes.

Organizers say the final part of the lifting process was a unique operation which had never been attempted anywhere in the world before. The wheel was swung into position by a series of cables pulling on a spindle, which were helped by another cable attached to the rim.

The idea for the wheel was presented by architects David Marks and Julia Barfield in 1995 in response to a Sunday Times millennium competition. Once properly installed in an upright position, the wheel will move around slowly, allowing visitors to just walk into their seats and step out after a half-hour rotation.

DATE: 10/18/99

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