During the assembly of Big Sky Ski Resort’s new Madison 8 Chairlift, a chairlift cross arm (horizontal arm on top of a tower) fell from a tandem-rotor Chinook helicopter and crashed into pickup truck below.
Thankfully no injuries have been reported but it was very nearly a tragic accident. The workers on the lift tower were specialists from Doppelmayr, the manufacturer of the chairlift, who were brought on site to install chairlift components.
Madison 8 is scheduled to open for the winter 2024-25 season. No word yet if that timeline has changed.
Here is the latest construction update from Big Sky:
“With the foundational work complete, structural steel work is underway at the lower terminal enclosure where the chairs will be stored and protected from the elements each night, while Doppelmayr installs the lift components. Structural steel work at the upper terminal will begin in October.”