Lift manufacturer Doppelmayr recently announced the order for a major project in Sochi, the longest 3S gondola lift type installation in the world, ahead of the 2014 Olympics, but now a new and even bigger order for the Olympic region has been placed.
Olympstroy, the Russian governmental organization for Sochi 2014, has placed an order for Doppelmayr to build another '3S' giant gondola lift installation similar to the Peak2Peak lift at Whistler Blackcomb, with two sections from Krasnaya Polyana to the skiing area Rosa Khutor where the alpine competitions of the Winter Olympics 2014 will take place.
The 3S installation will lead from Krasnaya Polyana to the Rosa Khutor Olympic Village (first section) and on to the so-called Rosa Khutor Finish Zone (second section). In Rosa Khutor, the alpine competitions of the Olympic Games of Sochi will be held.
Of particular significance the installation is designed in such way that it can also transport cars. Furthermore, this installation will be the most efficient ropeway in the world to date with a transport capacity of 4,500 passengers per hour in each direction. The start of the building works is scheduled for 2011 and the completion and start-up are planned to take place in 2013.
Besides its function as access lift to the skiing regions and the Olympic village, the installation is also an integrated and indispensable element of the Olympic transport logistics. In case a road leading to the skiing area or the Olympic village is not passable, the 3S ropeway serves as the "back-up system" the IOC requires. Therefore, the ropeway design allows the transportation of cars and enables switching from passenger to car transport within a short time.
The world's first 3S installation with two sections has an overall length of 3,100m climbs 700 vertical metres within 10 minutes. 53 cabins are provided for the transport of passengers and 25 special carriers are available for the transportation of cars.
In the awarding of the contract by Olympstroy (governmental organization for Sochi 2014), said Doppelmayr's profound know-how in ropeway technology, their reputation for high quality standards, their often proved implementation competence and not least with their worldwide experience with major projects were all factors. The cost of the lift has not been disclosed.
