Deep underground a new shaft is being built to bring massive steel beams to a neutrino experiment at the Sanford Underground Lab. The challenge – getting tons and tons of metal nearly a mile deep into an old mine shaft.
If you live in Rapid City, the beams due to go underground have been hiding in plain sight. The dozens of bright red girders can be seen at the local trainyard, and preparations are now underway to get those into the lab space.
That includes the construction of a new elevator shaft, conveyance and cage built specifically for this task. Wendy Straub is the SURF chief operating officer. She reflected on the first test run.
"We take down lessons learned in a more relaxed, if you will, environment, so we can go back to our build plans and modify or change anything," Straub said. "For instance, when we did the L-beam, it was discovered that it didn’t fit into the door of the head frame very well. Right now, we’re in the process where we have the engineering complete to modify that door.”
Now, Straub said the shaft is ready for mass quantities of metal. Additionally, she says the SURF team is uniquely qualified for complicated and precise engineering jobs like this.
“Between the engineers, and the rigging specialists, and the Ross Shaft crew and the hoist maintenance group, we have a spectacular team here,” Straub said.
Straub said the anticipation is building for the action to start.
“I’m most looking forward to seeing it happen," Straub said. "To imagine these spaces and the kind of results the scientists are going to develop out of these spaces we helped to create is really exciting. It’s world-leading technology here in Lead, South Dakota, and I think that’s pretty special.”
Beams are scheduled to go underground in early 2026.