Sunday, October 17, 1999 Published at 17:04 GMT 18:04 UK
Millennium Wheel ready to roll
The wheel now stands 450ft high
Champagne corks popped as the Millennium Wheel was finally hauled into its dominant place on London's skyline.
Organisers pledged it would be finished in time for 2000 as the complex lifting operation came to an end.
She said there was still much work to be carried out before the end of December, but added: "It is a fairly tight programme but we are very confident that we will get there."
The next job will be fitting the 32 egg-shaped viewing capsules, which weigh nine tonnes each. Carrying about 25 people, the capsules are currently in storage in Dartford, Kent, and are expected to be transported up the river on barges.
The BA spokeswoman said they would be floated up the river to the site and fitted in batches of four over a period of between eight to 10 days.
People will be able to sit in the fully enclosed capsules, which are mainly made of glass, in the comfort of air conditioning and listen to a running commentary.
The fourth-tallest structure in London, the wheel includes a frame from Holland, Italian cables, French capsules, British steel and a Czech spindle.
Passengers will be able to get on and off without it stopping, as it will rotate very slowly. A full trip will take 30 minutes.
BA plans to include local people and others connected with the project in the official opening. The wheel will open to the general public early in January.
It will have the capacity to carry 15,000 visitors a day.