The next major element of Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift is rising above Universal Studios Florida as crews simultaneously restore portions of Universal Music Plaza below.

Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift Construction

New ground-level and aerial views from bioreconstruct offer a sweeping look at the latest progress on the roller coaster, which is replacing Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit and scheduled to open in 2027.

A steep new support structure is being assembled behind the Universal Music Plaza stage. The new support rises high above the surrounding studio buildings, while the existing track around it can be seen banking into curved elements, supported by a dense framework of more dark blue columns and braces.

From inside the park, the emerging track dominates the skyline above the nearby soundstage buildings. Portions of the intertwined track can also be seen from several guest areas, including near the former Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit footprint. The yellow arrows and numbers in the above photos from Bio point out the recent removal of a concrete footer, suggesting the support element may have been misplaced or deemed unnecessary for the final structure.

Overhead views from Bio show the growing network of curves, drops, and intersecting track threaded between existing backstage buildings. Multiple track levels pass over and beneath one another, while crews and construction vehicles continue working around the completed footers.

Farther back, crews are assembling other portions of the layout around the station and launch areas. A steel framework installed around one section of track is believed to form an enclosed opening ride scene before trains enter the launch and switch-track sequence.

The latest work follows our previous construction update, which documented gaps in the tracks behind the stage and supports waiting to be installed. Coaster trains traveling to and from the load area will follow large arcs behind the stage, appearing to soar over Universal Music Plaza when viewed from the concert lawn.

New Turf at Universal Music Plaza

Work is also underway across the Universal Music Plaza lawn. Much of the existing artificial turf has been rolled up, exposing large sections of dark underlayment between the plaza’s concrete walkways.

New green turf is already in place around the outer portions of the plaza, including near the food and beverage kiosks. Additional rolls remain spread across the central lawn as installation continues.

Construction fencing surrounds most of the venue, leaving only the pathways closest to the park’s main thoroughfare open to guests. Trenches and disturbed areas through the center of the lawn indicate that utility work has also been performed beneath the plaza.

The Music Plaza work is occurring directly beside the coaster construction. Once complete, the refreshed lawn will sit beneath some of the attraction’s most visible track elements.

Track Staging Area Continues to Empty

The off-site staging yard near Universal Epic Universe is also noticeably emptier than it was earlier in construction. Large expanses of the lot are now clear, indicating that a significant amount of track and structural steel has been transported to Universal Studios Florida for installation.

Only scattered groups of gray track, dark blue supports, crates, pipes, and equipment remain across the yard. Several flatbed trucks are parked together carrying bundled supports and track sections, presumably awaiting transport or unloading.

The dwindling supply does not necessarily mean the coaster’s construction is near completion; however, the growing amount of open space illustrates how a majority of the attraction’s structure is already on-site at Universal Studios Florida.

Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift will include a 170-foot-tall spike with a 180-degree twist at its peak. Trains will climb the spike, reverse direction, and descend into the remainder of the course.

The coaster replaces Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, which closed in August 2025. Meanwhile, Universal recently announced that Fast & Furious – Supercharged will permanently close on August 17, 2026, leaving Hollywood Drift to carry the franchise forward at Universal Studios Florida.

Watch Bio’s latest video on the coaster construction progress below.

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