Latest News: A New ICON at Blackpool Pleasure Beach

March 5th, 2018

A New ICON at Blackpool Pleasure Beach

On Wednesday 14th February 2018, the final section of track for Blackpool Pleasure Beach’s new £16.25 million rollercoaster – ICON – was lifted into place. Members of the Thompson family, owners of the world famous Blackpool Pleasure Beach, signed the final length of track before it was carefully hoisted into place to complete the circuit of the UK’s first double launch coaster.

Work on the prestigious new project began in December 2016 with Sheet Piling (UK) Ltd playing a key role in the early stages of construction. Our in-house design team created a bespoke steel sheet pile retaining wall scheme to support the steelwork columns on which the new ICON ride sits atop. The steel sheet pile design utilised Emirates Steel ESZ Sheet Pile Sections creating retaining walls for a maximum permanent retained height of around 5.0m.

To date, over 100,000 hours have been invested on site by a permanent team of 50 construction engineers supported by specialist contractors, including Sheet Piling (UK) Ltd. Hundreds of tonnes of steel rollercoaster track have been hoisted into position, which in turn are supported by many more tonnes of steel sheet pile retaining wall foundation works.

 

Managing Director of Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Amanda Thompson OBE, said of the construction: “This is a key milestone in the build which marks the first in a series of thrilling interactions to guarantee riders a truly exhilarating experience. What we’ve achieved so far is impressive to see and a credit to all involved. We’re looking forward to visitors getting their very first glimpse of ICON when our doors open on 10 February.”

The new Blackpool Pleasure Beach ICON Rollercoaster is due to open to members of the public in spring 2018 and promises that riders will be taken to places they’ve never been before. ICON speeds through legendary rides including the Big One, the Steeplechase, Big Dipper and Pleasure Beach Express looping through, underneath and around Blackpool Pleasure Beach’s other rides 15 times, over 1.14 kilometres of track. The thrill seekers who ride ICON will be propelled out of a tunnel and will soar through the Big One structure at speeds of up to 50 miles per hour, experiencing the same levels of G force as felt by Formula 1 race car drivers.

Sheet Piling (UK) Ltd Managing Director Andrew Cotton commented: “The sheet pile retaining wall installation works commenced in February 2017 and the temporary bracing works were completed in April 2017. A year later and the exciting ICON ride is nearly complete and ready for it’s first, thrill seeking riders. As an engineering project, it was fascinating to be involved and I know many of the designers and engineers at Sheet Piling (UK) Ltd are looking forward to not only seeing the finished result but riding the rollercoaster too!”

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NOTES TO EDITORS
Sheet Piling (UK) Limited is one of the UK's leading piling contractors. Owning and operating a comprehensive range of specialist piling equipment Sheet Piling (UK) Ltd also carry extensive stocks of new and used piles enabling rapid reaction to any urgent requirements or emergency situations.