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05/22/2007 - Whistler Blackcomb has commenced construction on their $51 million, world record-breaking Peak to Peak Gondola. This incredible feat of engineering will connect Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains and is set to be completed by December 2008.
Groundbreaking took place on May 15 and excavation for each lift terminal will take place until mid-June. "There's lot of action on the ground and behind the scenes and we are looking forward to a successful production season this summer," says Rick Temple, Peak to Peak Project Manager for Whistler Blackcomb. "While we work to ready the mountain, crews are busy in Austria and Quebec in full production for the steel tower components to be erected this summer."
Whistler Blackcomb will install Towers 2 and 3 this summer. Tower 2 will be located on Whistler and Tower 3 will be located on Blackcomb, with a span of 3.024km/1.88 miles between them.
"The Peak to Peak Gondola construction project is the largest of its kind in North America," said Doug Forseth, Senior VP of Operations at Whistler Blackcomb, "yet it occupies the smallest ecological footprint of any project we've done yet on the mountain. The estimated 2.5 hectare footprint requires a significant logistical command of our existing resources for transportation and construction."
"We are committed to working with Whistler Blackcomb in minimizing the ecological impact," said Stefan Huter, Doppelmayr Project Manager. "We have engineered the project to limit construction activity to the terminals and tower locations only."
ESTIMATED CONSTRUCTION MILESTONES
May 15, 2007: Groundbreaking
June 15, 2007: Excavation compete
September 14, 2007: Terminal foundations & construction complete
Mid September 2007: Lift tower 3 installation complete
October 15, 2007: Lift tower 2 installation complete
Mid June 2008: Lift towers 1 & 4 installation complete
Early November 2008: Comprehensive lift & load testing
October 2008: Evacuation training
December 2008: Grand opening
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