CHARLOTTE — Carowinds has begun conducting tests on the Fury 325 roller coaster before reopening it to riders.
The decision to run these tests came after a significant crack was discovered in a support beam of the roller coaster.
To address the issue, a new support beam was installed last week.
As part of their safety measures, Carowinds plans to run the roller coaster for 500 cycles and conduct thorough inspections before allowing riders back on the ride.
[ PREVIOUS COVERAGE: ‘Completely fractured’: Crack on support beam of Fury 325 forces ride closure ]
In a statement, the amusement park said the purpose of these tests is to ensure that the roller coaster is safe and stable for passengers.
“Once the installation is complete, as part of our standard safety protocol, a comprehensive series of tests will be conducted to ensure the coaster’s safety and integrity. These will include an accelerometer test that uses sensors to measure any variation in the ride experience. After that, we plan to operate the ride for 500 full cycles, performing tests and inspections of the entire ride throughout that period. Once this phase is completed, we will ask B&M and the third-party testing firm to perform a final inspection to ensure the ride exceeds all required specifications.
Subsequently, we will collaborate with the North Carolina Department of Labor’s Elevator and Amusement Device Bureau to prepare Fury 325 for reopening. We will provide an update regarding the reopening date of the ride once it has been finalized.”
[ PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Carowinds shares timeline for repairing Fury 325 roller coaster ]
Channel 9′s Gina Esposito spoke with season ticket holder Trinity Brando, who said she isn’t sure if she will get back on the ride once it is fixed.
She said she was still in shock after seeing video of the damaged coaster.
“It’s not going to be as heavy on the test runs without people on it but I don’t wanna put a bunch of people to be test subjects,” Brando explained. “I know I will be going to the waterpark. I’m not sure about the rides.”
On such a good summer day, parkgoer Brittany Dietz said the ongoing drama with the Fury 325 won’t stop her boys from enjoying everything else Carowinds has to offer.
“All the roller coasters! All the big ones,” Dietz said.
Channel 9 has reached out to park officials for updates on the testing process. The park said they will provide updates as they become available.
VIDEO: Workers replacing Fury 325 support column at Carowinds
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