The only thing that Jason Bradshaw likes better than riding a zipline is building one. This is his lucky year, because his Niagara Falls, Ont.-based company Bradshaw Iron Works is supplying steel fabrication and erection services for two Niagara zipline projects simultaneously.
The Niagara Parks Commission had been actively working toward adding zipline attractions at two sites for the past several years.
In 2013, three firms submitted bids on providing the attractions and the successful proponent was Niagara Adventure Excursions Inc., which partnered with WildPlay Element Parks, a company that had already developed five aerial adventure parks and ziplines in western Canada and provided consulting services on others.
An adventure course at Niagara’s Thompson’s Point will incorporate both climbing and ziplining activities.
The real star of the show is a 670-metre zipline starting from Niagara Parks Grand View Marketplace and finishing at the historic Ontario Power Company building at the base of Horseshoe Falls.
"They’re aiming to open both attractions by Canada Day, so steel construction on both of these attractions has kept us hopping," says Bradshaw, whose company is well versed in amusement park projects.
Bradshaw Iron Works also worked on both the Niagara Falls Pile Driver and Pink Panther ride attractions.
Contracts for fabrication and steel erection services on the new projects total about $750,000 for the main zipline and $300,000 for the adventure park.
"In order to help keep the project on schedule we condensed a three-week project on the lower landing of the main zipline into eight long days using a six-man crew," says Bradshaw.
All of the galvanized steel — about 90 tonnes of it — was fabricated at Bradshaw’s iron fabrication shop.
Steel detailing was provided by Progressive Steel Detailing Ltd. of Grimsby and cranes were supplied by Wayne’s Crane Service of St. Catharines. Steel was erected by the Bradshaw crew and members of Ironworkers Local 736.
"The main zipline runs from the top of the concrete building that houses the elevator leading to the Hornblower Niagara Cruise boat tour landing," says Bradshaw. "It’s a heavy duty steel structure that includes 20 tonnes of counterweight to hold up the cable while people zip along it."
The steel structure at the Horseshoe Falls landing was firmly anchored into concrete attached to piers driven deep into the bedrock.
"You should have seen the size of the hydraulic torque wrench we used to anchor the steel to the concrete," says Bradshaw.
Contractors are currently stringing zipline cable to complete the attraction, with Bradshaw’s assistance.
The toughest part of the job was an occupational hazard for any construction crews working around the Niagara and Horseshoe Falls — relentless mist with the addition of significant rain.
Work on the adventure park involved erecting a series of steel structures to hold the smaller zipline aloft.
"They’re like modified TV antenna trusses," says Bradshaw. "The adventure park zipline isn’t that high off the ground. It’s more for the younger crowd or for corporate team-building exercises. Big on fun, but not as high on adrenaline."
Plans for the main zipline would see it serving up to 1,000 guests per day on a 12-hour schedule.
"The buzz from the roller coaster and amusement park enthusiast community is that the big zipline is going to be a go-to for anyone serious about visiting the most adrenaline-fueled rides in North America," says Bradshaw. "I’ve already let the operators know that I’ll be happy to take the first ride down so I can provide them with a first-person recommendation."
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