Significant Changes for the High Noon Express & High Flyer Chairlift at Turoa
For Winter 2011, Turoa customers can expect a significantly improved High Noon Express Chairlift. Following two tower collapses during 2010 and numerous derailing and damage incidents during severe ice storms, lift manufacturer Doppelmayr has recommended some significant structural changes to the lift. This work will all be completed prior to this next winter.
These structural changes to the line of the lift will involve, relocation of 2 towers, installation of 4 additional towers, installation of new combination sheave assemblies and many of the existing towers will be shortened. Reducing the length of the spans between towers and decreasing tower heights will significantly reduce the number of times that high winds cause the cable to derail during storm cycles. This will allow the cable to be moved more frequently during storm cycles resulting in reduction of ice buildup both on towers and the cable. The lift will then be far less susceptible to damage and will be far easier to have deiced and operational following a severe storm cycle.
Both Doppelmayr and Mt Ruapehu lift experts believe this will be a very good solution to the considerable problems that have been occurring as a result of significant storms since the lift was installed in 2007.