If you love spotting theme park construction clues, this Hollywood Drift update at Universal is a big one.

Universal isn’t wasting any time bringing its newest thrill ride to Orlando! New construction updates show visible progress in the former iconic coaster location and it’s one of the clearest signs yet that this new coaster is going to completely reshape this corner of Universal’s park.
Even though we’re still a bit of a ways out from the official opening, Universal Orlando’s newest coaster project is already starting to look very real.

The upcoming Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift roller coaster is still slated to debut later this summer, but thanks to a huge new batch of aerial photos from BioReconstruct, we’re getting one of the most detailed looks yet at just how much visible progress is happening behind the scenes, and it’s definitely more than just “dirt and fences” at this point!

One of the biggest recent developments is the continued growth of a new service and support building taking shape near the coaster’s footprint.

You can clearly see structural work moving forward, giving us a better sense of how large this attraction’s backstage operations are going to be. These kinds of buildings are often some of the earliest major signs that a project is moving from groundwork into true vertical construction, and Hollywood Drift is clearly hitting that stage. But the most eye-catching changes might be happening in a spot longtime Universal fans know especially well.

BioReconstruct has also captured several new views of construction activity around the area where the former Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit station once stood. With that iconic coaster now officially closed, Universal is wasting absolutely no time repurposing the space as part of this new Fast & Furious expansion. Seeing work happening so quickly in that footprint really drives home just how big of a transformation this section of the park is about to undergo.

Additional aerial shots show even more of the surrounding construction zone coming together, giving clearer looks at the coaster’s overall layout area, the scale of backstage development, and how much of this corner of Universal Studios Florida is being reshaped for the new attraction. Check out this electrical conduit work in real time.

While we’re still waiting for the really dramatic “track is going up” moments, this is the kind of progress coaster watchers love: infrastructure rising, work zones expanding, and the park quietly preparing for its next major thrill centerpiece. They’re even working on the concrete path between Universal Studios Florida and the neighboring Islands of Adventure.

It’s wild to think about how quickly this is all moving! Rip Ride Rockit was such a recognizable part of the park’s skyline for years, and now Universal is already shifting into its next era with a brand-new high-profile coaster on the way.
While we still don’t have a full look at the ride experience itself just yet, there IS another version of this roller coaster opening up much sooner on the West Coast at Universal Studios Hollywood. These aerial updates are a reminder that Hollywood Drift is very much on the way for Orlando, though, and that Universal’s summer coaster lineup is shaping up to be a major one.

If you’re visiting the parks in the coming months, keep your eyes peeled, because this is one project where the progress is starting to become impossible to ignore.
Stay tuned — we’ll absolutely be watching this one closely as construction continues and bringing you even more updates right here at AllEars!
Permanent Closure Announced for a Universal Orlando Ride in 2027
Which of Universal’s upcoming projects are you most excited to see fully completed? Leave them for us in the comments below!

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