I noted with some surprise the article headlined "Checking a skyhigh attraction won't be wobbly"
(The Argus, November 3).
As the chief engineer on the project, can I assure you that we do not have any "fears that it could become a repeat of London's wobbling millennium bridge".
On the contrary, Brighton i360 has been designed from day one to have dampers fitted to the mast, and these dampers are designed to stop movements occurring within the mast and pod structures during windy conditions. This is exactly what we did at the London Eye project (which is also fitted with dampers on the rim structure).
More than 30 million passengers have been on the London Eye and they universally agree that the structure is very stable and does not "wobble" in the slightest.
By contrast, the Millennium Bridge (which was designed by a completely different team from the London Eye and Brighton i360) did not have dampers fitted when the bridge first opened. They were subsequently fitted in response to concerns about the wobble.
Preparatory work for construction is nearing completion and we are looking forward to site work starting in spring 2008.
- Dr John Roberts, director of operations, Jacobs (engineers to the Brighton i360)
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