Snowshoe, WV (Thursday, August 3, 2006) - Construction is underway this summer on Snowshoe Mountain’s new high-speed detachable quad lift that will service the ski and snowboard resort's Widowmaker slope system and adjoining trails for the 2006-2007 season.

The project is being constructed by Doppelmayr CTEC. Crews detached and fly out the old lift towers by helicopter and flew in concrete footers for the new towers in mid-June, and construction of the main infrastructure of the new high-speed lift is now in progress.

“We are very excited about the construction of the new high-speed detachable quad lift,” said Dave Kennedy, Snowshoe’s Lift Operations Manager. “The new, more efficient lift should help enhance our guest’s experience even further, reducing the ride time from eight to 10 minutes to less than three minutes.”

The lift, the name of which has yet to be determined, will replace the old, fixed-grip triple Widowmaker lift, increasing the lift’s uphill capacity from 1,800 people per hour to 2,400 people per hour. Initial construction of the lift began in April and it is expected to be operational for the 2006-2007 ski season. Traveling at 1000 feet per minute, the new lift should help reduce wait times during peak hours. Snowshoe guests will be able to take advantage of the new lift and its related trails as well as improved access to other areas of the resort.