Vertical Construction Has Begun!

PB-Reader said:
I am really liking how close to the ground the track keeps going. That should really add excitement to the ride.

Plus the supports are going to be really close, how many head/leg choppers are on this ride?

It's like Maverick, but with dangling legs :D I love track that is close to the ground.

Anybody know if the construction workers are working today? It seems like the giant red crane is moving, but it's not doing anything?

Shawn Meyer said:
It seems like the giant red crane is moving, but it's not doing anything?

If the 'giant red crane' is moving that would indicate that it IS doing something. It is moving, thus it would only move if workers were onsite today.
(sorry I could not resist).

Yeah your right. What a dumb question....lol. It just seems like they are moving back and fourth with the giant red crane. I haven't seen them pick up anything yet with it.

My guess is that they are positioning the crane for the next area/phase of construction. it's hard to tell, but I can't see any more white supports up.....granted these next few would be close to the ground and than the towers.

Even if they have a really productive day, they might not put up any supports or track. They have a lot of other stuff they are doing

Quick question. Why such a late start (or slower progress) on GateKeeper? Maverick's track was completed late October! It just seems like CP "preps" earlier in the season based off the last few coasters, but not this one. Just a thought.

^ No idea, but it will be funny when GateKeeper ends up being the one that opens on time.

They had to tear down two rides and the main entrance. They couldn't do anything until after the park closed. Maverick wasn't in the way of anything.

That,the fact that it's not an Intamin but a B&M with none of the technological advances of Maverick,and it doesn't have the theming that maverick had(the canyon walls and ext.).

GateKeeper is actually going up faster than any other coaster I've seen.

Shawn Meyer said:
Some of us may duck our heads a couple times the first time riding.

I think that if you're sitting on an outer right seat, this part of the ride will be as close call as the keyholes: http://www.sanduskyregister.com/media-gallery/detail/3040581/129751

I know I'll definitely be ducking, wanting to put my hands down, and trying to lean away.

Maverick had miles and miles of cable to run and electrical work, to say nothing of the rock work around the site.

I dont post often but my brother just called me on his way back to school at Bowling Green and he said he passed two flatbed trailers hauling pieces of blue roller coaster track, and that one flatbed had two pieces of track and the other only had 1 on the bed and there was 1 piece on the ground, like it had fallen off. He said he was near Rt 6 and 199 if I heard him correctly. I just got the phone call 5 minutes ago so I'm not sure of all the facts. He could be very mistaken about what he saw, so has anyone else heard anything about this?

2jordanr said:
Quick question. Why such a late start (or slower progress) on GateKeeper? Maverick's track was completed late October! It just seems like CP "preps" earlier in the season based off the last few coasters, but not this one. Just a thought.

White Water Landing was shut down late season 2005 for site clearing, etc. The entire site was closed for construction of Maverick track and theming the entire 2006 operating season (year of Skyhawk), it opened over a year and a half later in May 2007. Gatekeeper's construction is "flying by" (no pun intended) compared to Maverick's.

I hope gatekeeper will not have a track replacement delay like maverick did, then open on memorial day instead. :(

^Insert Intamin joke here.

Ride on 17, Thank you for the quote and the link to Sandusky Register album of pictures. I'm hoping they finish the roll element this week. Sorry guys, I forgot what that element is called.

It's called a flat spin. And with only 1 segment (or 2 track pieces) to go before it's finished, I don't think you have to worry.

^^No problem, I know I'll be trying to avoid getting hit by supports! And I love how there are so many different sources to get info and pics about GK. Sandusky Register, here on PB, Cedar Point itself, facebook, along with other various sources and sites. Progress is really coming along. I wondered one thing, though. While the large crane is in its current position near the flatspin, do you think the last section of the ride (MCBR, helix, and bunny hill/turn, will be constructed before the crane moves further away? Or do you think construction will continue like it has been, going in order. Personally, I think it would be easier and quicker if the end of the ride is installed now instead of moving the crane away and back again.