Niagara Parks will soon replace all six of the steel support ropes which carry the more-than 100-year-old Whirlpool Aero Car across the Niagara Gorge each year, treating visitors to some of the most incredible views available of the Niagara River Whirlpool below.
As part of the ongoing, rigorous maintenance that occurs at the Whirlpool Aero Car, a test conducted at the end of the Aero Car season this past November, identified that one of the six ropes would need to be replaced. As a result, Niagara Parks made the decision to replace all six track ropes in order to ensure the same characteristic metal strength and quality is replicated in all six ropes produced by the manufacturer. The steel ropes have a general life expectancy of about 35-40 years, depending on usage and weather conditions.
Niagara Parks staff will be working with general contractor and industry leader Doppelmayr, which currently provides Niagara Parks with technical support to both the Aero Car and Falls Incline Railway. A variety of local subcontractors will also be engaged to complete the replacement project. Construction work is set to begin in early February but is dependent on the delivery of the replacement ropes and weather conditions.
Beginning the week of January 7, safety fencing will be installed at Thompson and Colts point as preparations for the project commence. Starting in February, work to replace the six support ropes at the Whirlpool Aero will begin and is expected to continue into mid-March. The spring opening date for the Whirlpool Aero Car is scheduled for mid-April 2019, though will be dependent on weather conditions.
