Orlando Eye Construction Milestone with Hub Installation

ORLANDO, Florida (June 16, 2014) - This week marks a major milestone in the construction of the Orlando Eye, with the arrival and installation of the observation wheel’s 80,000-pound hub, the approximate weight of a Boeing 737 plane. The hub is the centerpiece of the attraction that will hold the spokes and capsules of the Orlando Eye, and it will expand the size and scope of the attraction. The Eye’s A-frame structure can currently be seen from miles around.

The hub, which was built overseas, made a transatlantic journey last week to the U.S., and was transported by road to the Orlando Eye’s construction site on International Drive. A custom piece of equipment,  the Tenex 600-ton mega wing mobile crane has been assembled on the construction site for the hub’s installation.

Once the work on the hub is complete, it will allow for the Orlando Eye’s rotating structure to be built, which will notably increase the size and scope of the entire structure. It will become the centerpiece of the attraction, eventually holding up the spokes, or trusses, and capsules.

Here's the official video of the installation of the Orlando Eye hub, as well as a few brief comments made by James Paulding, Head of Opening for the Merlin Entertainment attractions in North America:

The Orlando Eye (as well as most of the other I-Drive 360 attractions) is scheduled to open spring 2015.

PHOTOS/VIDEO: I-Drive 360/Merlin Entertainment Co. All rights reserved. Photo credit: Preston Mack.