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SW8 Track Work Goes Vertical!
Sunday 21st May 2017
With GCI being on site for the past few weeks it was only time until track work started. 

Today the pile of mud starts to get interesting! Inside the concrete station GCI have begun putting up frame work for the rollercoaster. Foundations are still being poured around the rest of the site with metal brackets added to the foundations ready for wood over the next few weeks. We don't expect to see anything major going on outside until all foundations are complete. 

Also spotted in the car park / build area is some strange metal work that we believe could be for internal workings of the ride. 

A Sunny SW8 Update
Sunday 14th May 2017
Not much has changed since our last update, the rebar has been replaced by concrete and brackets have been placed to set the positions for the wood however have not been fixed into position but it heavily hints to wood going on site soon.

Apart from that not much work has progressed, but it seems that construction might be picking up pace very soon.

Wood Arrives Onsite At Alton Towers
Monday 8th May 2017
Work on SW8 is continuing nicely! Footers are being poured left right and centre with the top end of the site looking complete and ready for rollercoaster construction! Meanwhile near the information kiosk near the edge of the site parts of the path have been dug up with new cables laid. Possibly for getting power to the SW8 site? 

As mentioned briefly in our previous construction update, the big news of the week is that rollercoaster manufacturers GCI are now onsite and setting up a workshop ready to build the rollercoaster over the next few weeks. With wood and metal brackets arriving on site over the weekend we expect that small sections of the ride will go vertical by the end of the month.

Great Coasters International Arrive on Site
Thursday 4th May 2017
GCI Arrived on site today. This signifies that most of the ground work is done and work is about to commence with the coaster itself. It is expected that wood will arrive on site sometime soon, most likely before next week.
SW8 Whats in the concrete building
Saturday 29th April 2017
SW8 Whats in the concrete building!? One question thats left us thinking have the park done another smiler to us and not released the full plans. On the first and second photos on the photo gallery below theres a section where something could enter the bottom of the station and then quickly exit to the side. Although this is just a fan theory it would make sense!

Meanwhile across the rest of the site, concrete footers have started to be poured towards the top of the site. Reflecting back and comparing this to other projects that Merlin have done this one is by far the most advanced by this stage.

SW8 Lighting Schedule and Theming Plans
Wednesday 19th April 2017
Today Alton Towers have submitted plans to the local council with the lighting schedule for SW8. However along with the lighting schedule for the ride there appears to be two new plans for a big theming structure. Also noticeable in the two new plans, there appears to be a big viewing area in the middle of the ride!

Ground work continues
Monday 17th April 2017
Work has progressed on site since our last visit, more dirt has been dug up and more rebar has been put in place. There is still some rebar on the external site but pretty bare apart from that possibly hinting that ride materials may be arriving soon. Viewing windows have been added for guests to see the construction site more clearly.

Rebar For Lift Hill Footers
Saturday 1st April 2017
Over the past few days work has continued over at the SW8 construction site. At the top of the site, work has progressed well with rebar for the lift hill footers being dug into place ready for the concrete to be poured. This will then open up the top of the site ready for the wooden structure to be built come summer time / september time. 

Meanwhile at the bottom of the site near the old flume entrance a small hole has been dug, almost as if a drop will go in the space created. It could be nothing but its worth keeping an eye on it over the next few months.

Also danger of construction site signs have been added to the path running along side the new ride. 

SW8 - First look of the season
Saturday 25th March 2017
Saturday saw the start of the 2017 Alton Towers Season so we got out our stilts and had a look to see what has happened to the old flume site as last time the general public were let in the park the area was still a rubber duckie haven! However today was another story, the site looks completely different to how it did a few months ago. Concrete footers for the station have been poured and the site is looking ready for more over the next few weeks. 

SW8 Plans Approved
Friday 26th August 2016
Back in May 2016 Alton Towers applied for planning permission for a brand new wooden rollercoaster on the site of The Flume. Codenamed SW8 yesterday Thursday 25th August 2016 the plans for the attraction where approved by Staffordshire Moorlands District Council.

Since the plans where submitted back in May theres been one modification. Previously the shop and main station building where attached. In the approved plans, the main building is slightly smaller and the shop is in a separate building. 

Work on the new attraction is set to start during September with the flume being dismantled and preparation of the site ready for the wooden rollercoaster. As stated in the planning documents construction will be completed by December 2017 ready for the ride to open in 2018.