STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- After traveling by barge from Canada, four 100-ton pedestals are being erected at the site of the New York Wheel -- set to become one of the world's tallest at 630 feet above New York Harbor when it opens in 2018.

Construction workers from Skanska at the site of the future 60-story observation wheel will have the pedestals firmly cemented into the ground by the end of this week, said Richard Marin, Wheel CEO, on a tour of the St. George site on Tuesday.

"We are formalizing the finishing of the pedestals. There's a lot of work involved," he said.

The pedestals, which will hold up the 275 foot long legs of the Wheel, are the first physical pieces to reach the construction site via barge from Montreal. Each pedestal is in a different stage of construction.

Opening in 2018, the New York Wheel will be the world's tallest observation wheel at 630 feet and is expected to attract more than three million visitors per year. The $590 million project is part of a $1.2 billion redevelopment of Staten Island's North Shore.

"The pedestals were fabricated with great precision by a company called ADF in Montreal. We brought them by barge through the Erie Canal and down the Hudson. We have 11 feet of concrete, and in the middle of that are embeds that are epoxy coated and are sitting in concrete with all that rebar around it," explained Marin of the pedestal erection process.

"Eighteen feet in diameter (the pedestals), there are 90 bolts coming up. ...This is all being precisely surveyed and lined up. But we got them all set when they came in, but then you have to do a lot of other work. A lot of welding and tightening," he added.

TEMPORARY DOCK

To take delivery of the pedestals and other parts of the Wheel throughout the construction process, a $3 million temporary dock was built by local Staten Island firm, Reicon Group LLC. The construction of the dock is just part of the $26 million that has already been generated for the Staten Island economy through construction and related services.

"At every turn of this project, we've sought to use a combination of best-in-class partners and vendors, and to hire and buy locally wherever possible. To date, we've added millions to the local Staten Island economy through this project; as we get closer to our opening, this number will continue to grow," said Marin.

NEXT STEPS

The Wheel construction will progress with transporting large cranes from Brooklyn Marine Terminal after the pedestals are fully erected.

Also at Brooklyn Marine Terminal are all eight leg pieces, which have been stored there since they arrived from Italy in October.

"Next, the eight legs sections come over one by one (from Brooklyn Marine Terminal)," said Marin.

After the legs are set atop the pedestals, construction will focus on the "A" Frame, hub and spindle of the Wheel.

"The two A frames form the ends of the hub and spindle," said Marin.

TERMINAL BUILDING

Wheel workers, along with public officials and media were among the first people led up the newly-constructed steps of the terminal building to where a green roof will be created.

"When you go up these steps you get a sense that this is pretty special. You can see our million-dollar view from here," said Marin.

Councilwoman Debi Rose (D-North Shore) added: "I just want to say how exciting this is. You tell people it's coming and it's going to be exciting, but it isn't until there is something above ground that they can see, that adds to the reality of the project."

PEDESTAL MANUFACTURERS

Representatives of ADF, a structural steal fabricator, took Tuesday's tour to celebrate the Wheel milestone.

"Most of this (the pedestals) has been made out of steel plate," said Marshall Wood, regional sales manager for ADF. "As far as what we like to do, this is the exact type of project we are excellent at. ... We fabricated other things like this, but this is the first type of Wheel we've ever done. We worked in New York for many years, and we worked on the World Trade Center."

WHEEL PARKING GARAGE

Marin said the remainder of the spots in the Wheel parking garage will be compete "very soon." He noted that the plan was to open the full garage and Nicholas Street ramp in December, as well as to offer self-parking.