Crane Rental Corporation lifts hub of Orlando Eye

Last month Crane Rental Corporation lifted the 83,000-pound hub of the new Orlando Eye observation wheel into place. The hub was installed approximately 200 feet above the ground, the center of what will be a 400-foot-tall attraction on Orlando’s popular International Drive. The wheel is being constructed by Adena Corporation.

The hub unit was transported on Crane Rental Corporation’s 13-axle trailer and lifted with their 600-ton capacity Terex AC500-2 hydraulic truck crane with a Sideways Superlift (SSL) attachment. Other work for the observation wheel is being completed by Crane Rental Corporation’s 130-ton capacity Grove RT9130E rough-terrain crane, which will remain onsite for the duration of the job. During the hub lift the RT lifted a work platform 200 feet, bringing a crew to attach the hub to the base structure.

The wheel itself will be constructed in sections, rotating as they are completed. The attraction is scheduled to open in the spring of 2015.