Blackpool rollercoaster wins civil engineering award

By Tim Aldred

22 Mar 2019

icon-civil-engineering-award.jpg

ICON, the newly-opened rollercoaster at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, has been recognised at the Institution of Civil Engineers North West awards.

The UK’s first double launch rollercoaster, ICON takes thrill-seekers beyond 50mph and up to 30 metres into the air.

Preston-based Westlakes Engineering teamed up with Mack Rides of Germany to combine engineering expertise with knowledge of human physiology to develop the safe yet exciting attraction.

The ride’s 1,143 metre track ‘interacts’ with other famous rides like the Big Dipper and Steeplechase and was virtually mapped by Westlakes before work began on site, using a system called 3D BIM Modelling to ensure that ICON could fit into what is already the world’s most ride intensive amusement park. Blackpool Pleasure Beach says it is the most complex technology ever seen in its theme park.

Emma Antrobus, north west director of the Institution of Civil Engineers, said: "For this award we were looking for excellence and imaginative concepts in civil engineering and this complex ICON project certainly delivers.

"It’s a great advertisement showing the breadth of civil engineering, highlighting it as a brilliant career and delivering something which will thrill and delight thousands of people for years to come."

Chris Pratt, director at Westlakes added; “The engineering in a rollercoaster is complex and building one like ICON in such limited space was very challenging. But it is great experience for the team, you don’t forget it.

"Thirty years ago one of my most memorable projects as a young engineer was the design of the Avalanche ride at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, and our team has been working on rides like this ever since."

Steve Hughes, director of engineering and projects at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, added: “ICON really has been the most challenging, but also most rewarding, project that we have ever undertaken at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.

"When planning and constructing ICON, there were so many factors which other amusement parks would never have to consider such as proximity to other rides and the fact that we had to put the foundations into challenging ground conditions. Taking all these factors into consideration, we are delighted with the end result and ICON truly is an engineering marvel.”

The project’s award win for Medium Project of the Year was announced at the ICE North West Annual Awards dinner at the Hilton where ICE president Andrew Wyllie presented the trophies.

Enjoyed this? Read more from Tim Aldred

Latest news

1

Bellway to build 183 high quality new homes Royal Bowland Park street scene NEW.jpg.jpg

Bellway to build 183 high quality new homes

29 Oct 2025

2

University of Lancashire recognised for entrepreneurship and supporting business growth - Representatives from the University's Business School, local SMEs and the IOEE

University of Lancashire recognised for entrepreneurship and supporting business growth

29 Oct 2025

3

£8bn Typhoon order is great news for Lancashire BAE Typhoon ECRS Mk2 Radar

£8bn Typhoon order is great news for Lancashire

28 Oct 2025

4

Award-winning Lancashire wedding venue and hotel is sold The Mill at Conder Green

Award-winning Lancashire wedding venue and hotel is sold

28 Oct 2025

5

PM+M announces another 19 promotions across the firm PM+M promotions

PM+M announces another 19 promotions across the firm

27 Oct 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
November / December 2025 Magazine Launch Event
Holiday Inn Hotel
Networking
28 Oct 2025 - 18 Nov 2025

November / December 2025 Magazine Launch Event

Holiday Inn, Blackpool

16:46 - 16:45

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Help to grow management course
Help to grow - barriers to growth.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
26 Sep 2025 - 16 Dec 2025

Help to grow management course

Preston Campus , Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

Women scaling up Blackpool Fylde and Wyre
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 09 Jan 2026

Women scaling up Blackpool Fylde and Wyre

The Small Business Academy, Blackpool, FY4 5JX

09:30 - 15:30

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women
thumbnail_Emma Weston Illustration WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 18 Mar 2026

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:30 - 15:30

Chamber Breakfast Networking – November
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
06 Nov 2025 - 06 Nov 2025

Chamber Breakfast Networking – November

Porsche Centre South Lakes, Carnforth, LA6 1FW

08:30 - 10:30

Lancashire Police business update with The Police and Crime Commissioner
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Roundtables
10 Nov 2025 - 10 Nov 2025

Lancashire Police business update with The Police and Crime Commissioner

Lancaster Castle, Lancaster, LA1 1YN

14:00 - 16:00

Beyond the Brand: Building trust through values and integrity
1.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
11 Nov 2025 - 11 Nov 2025

Beyond the Brand: Building trust through values and integrity

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 20:00

AI, Creativity, and what it means to be human
2.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
11 Nov 2025 - 11 Nov 2025

AI, Creativity, and what it means to be human

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 20:00

The Business Network Central and East Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
13 Nov 2025 - 13 Nov 2025

The Business Network Central and East Lancashire

Stanley House, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

11:30 - 14:15

The AI Lab: E-commerce
Ai Lab ecommerce (1).png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
14 Nov 2025 - 14 Nov 2025

The AI Lab: E-commerce

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 11:30

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV124 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin