Richard
Photos Richard has uploaded
Here are all of the photos that Richard has uploaded.
Well that's one way to deal with an existing conduit that passes through the location of a footing – simply go straight through the foundations.
More and more footings are completed ahead of vertical construction of the roller coaster.
The ride's course seems to follow the drive into Movie World, then turn so that it's parallel with Entertainment Road and the Pacific Motorway.
At least that would explain all the pipes...
But maybe this whole construction process is simply the most elaborate drainage ditch we've ever seen?
This photo was meant to demonstrate that a section has been mysteriously blacked out, but the wind decided not to keep any secrets. It's merely the last of the remaining Mack crates.
A good look at some of the different sizes of footings that will exist for different sizes of supports.
No longer a Mack coaster it seems. As for what these crates likely contained, the answer is simply the thousands of sections of prefabricated rebar, bolts and framework that had to be assembled on-site before installation. It's really just one big IKEA project...
This fenced off area likely won't be part of the ride but rather exists for crew parking or equipment/part storage.
And if you thought we were getting close to seeing the sheer extent of this coaster, think again: there is an army of footings yet to be placed.
There's two fairly separate rows of footings; roughly parallel with each other. One either side of the bobcat stirring up all the dust.
Excavators keeping one step ahead of the crews placing the rebar, who are staying one step ahead of the teams laying concrete.
That same cluster.
A large cluster of columns coming from the one large pile cap.
Circular rebar towards the front used for the cylindrical columns, and large rectangular rebar used for the larger rectangular footings. The longer L sections are likely for the piles while the shorter L sections for the cylindrical columns.
Have we lost you yet?
Piles of dirt. If you thought that roller coaster foundations were simply the cylindrical or square footings you see on completed rides, this should tell you otherwise.
Foudation work continues well off into the distance towards Wet'n'Wild and Australian Outback Spectacular.
A large rectangular footing and a smaller cylindrical footing. Mack roller coasters, including Sea World's Storm Coaster, typically feature all square and rectangular footings; it's somewhat unusual to see these cylinders being used by this manufacturer.
The black square jig is precisely manufactured to ensure that the bars are bars are perfectly spaced from one another. They will be removed and discarded later in the process to allow supports to be lowered and bolted in place.
The orange caps simply ensure that the relatively sharp rebar ends are clearly visibly and unable to cause injuries to construction workers.
