Universal Studios Hollywood has revealed a few more details about the “Fast & Furious” roller coaster, including how the park plans to mitigate noise concerns for nearby neighborhoods. 

Information posted on Universal’s community outreach website, Universal & You, says the new ride will be built with “four layers of mitigation” to reduce noise, including:

  • Filling the track with gravel “to minimize vehicle sound;”
  • A 200-yard sound wall made of sound-absorbing material;
  • Building two “half pipe shields” to “encase sound at the source;  
  • A ride vehicle capable of turning 360 degrees to “turn and program vehicles away from the community at key scream moments.”

The last detail confirms one of the ride’s rumored features. Screamscape had reported in May 2022 that the ride, then unconfirmed, would utilize a “controlled spinning system.” 

Renderings released by the park also gave an idea of how the coaster could be visible from outside the park. 

Rendering of ‘Fast & Furious’ coaster from Toluca Lake (Universal)

Another rendering of the future coaster (Universal)

The community info did note that the ride is planned to be in operation “consistent with park hours, including peak season and special events.” This indicates the coaster will not be limited to daytime hours and will be able to run during Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights events, which go until the early morning hours. 

Universal also said it will conduct sound tests with increased frequency once the coaster is ready for testing. 

Judging by the state of the construction site during Theme Park Tribune’s visit to the park earlier this month, testing is a long ways off. 

‘Fast & Furious’ coaster construction as of Oct. 2023 (Theme Park Tribune)

The construction area along the Universal City hillside is mostly cleared, but nothing significant has gone vertical. 

Universal has not announced any opening timeframe or even an official name for the “Fast & Furious” coaster. All that’s known is that the new ride will take over space on the Upper Lot once occupied by the Animal Actors and Special Effects stage shows before they closed earlier this year.