Grande roue de Montréal, Observation wheel in Old Port, Canada
La Grande roue de Montréal is a 60-metre WS60 Ferris wheel from Dutch Wheels (Vekoma group), the fourth of its type worldwide after Hong Kong, Baku and Chicago. Its 42 climate-controlled cabins, each holding eight people, are mounted on the outer circumference and reachable by wheelchair users. The axle is held by six pylons on anti-seismic foundations built to withstand 240 km/h winds.
La Grande roue de Montréal was built for the 375th anniversary celebrations of the founding of Montreal and opened to the public on 1 September 2017. Its CA$28 million construction cost was paid by private investors, and it is operated by La Grande Roue de Montréal Incorporée. It is the fourth WS60 model from Dutch Wheels (Vekoma group) installed worldwide, after Hong Kong and Baku in 2014 and Chicago in 2016.
From the observation cabins, passengers observe the modern city skyline alongside historical landmarks, including Mont Royal, Jacques-Cartier Bridge, and Bonsecours Market.
The wheel stands on Bonsecours Basin Island in Bonsecours Basin Park, in the Old Port of Montreal. It runs daily from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., and a ticket gives 20 minutes of use, usually two to four turns depending on weather and crowds. Cabins are accessible to people with disabilities.
The structure rests on anti-seismic foundations that withstand winds of 240 kilometers per hour and functions in temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees Celsius.
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