11.03.2004

Wembley’s 135m-high arch has been declared unsafe to raise into position.

The 135 arch that will span the new Wembley stadium, was today declared as unsafe to go through the complex tilt up procedure that has been selected as the best method of lifting it into place.

The lifting schedule involves a series of hydraulic jacks attached to cables that will pull on the top of the arch, which has been built on a large set of Pivots. For the first 45 degrees ain intermediate mast will be used as with a lattice crane boom, this will be removed for the second half of the winching, or rather jacking, process to a point around ten degrees beyond the vertical in order to prevent shadows falling on the pitch.

Project Managers on site say that "some minor rectification works" are being carried out and that the showpiece arch will still be lifted into place this spring. A routine safety check revealed that more work or perhaps some changes were needed on the complex steel structure.

Ashley Muldoon, project director for Multiplex Construction UK, the main contractor stated that. "There are no structural problems with the construction of Wembley Stadium.
"Extensive quality assurance checks are carried out on-site on a regular basis. These are procedural and on occasion, some rectification work is required.

"The project is running ahead of schedule and Multiplex is confident that we will deliver it on time and to budget."
The new stadium is due to open in 2006 and the 2006 FA Cup final is scheduled to be the first match to be played there.