Cargill shaft project nears halfway mark

Construction on the 2,400-foot-deep air and emergency escape shaft connecting Cargill’s Cayuga Salt Mine to the surface is about halfway complete. The shaft comes to the surface between Ross Road and Sweazey Road, about a quarter mile west of Route 34B.

The 100-year-old mine, the deepest underground salt mine in the Western Hemisphere, produces more than 2 million tons of road de-icing salt per year and supports more than 180 local jobs.

The new shaft became necessary as the mining progressed north under Cayuga Lake to about one mile north of Taughannock Point. Regulations require that miners be able to evacuate from their work sites in less than one hour. At the current extent of the mine, escape time is nearing that limit at 45 minutes.

A 20,000-pound capacity lift will lower miners down, and a mile-long tunnel will take them to their work site, shortening their underground “commute.” The shaft will also provide ventilation and power to the mine. No salt processing, loading or shipping will take place at the new site.

The shaft was approved by the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation in August 2017 and the construction site by the Lansing Town Board in January of 2018.

Construction began that same month and, by February, a 2,500-foot-8-inch cased power borehole was complete. An electrical substation began, and the power cable was put in place May 2019.

By June, the shaft’s surface foundation was excavated to bedrock and concrete foundation work started – a massive “rebar” framework was constructed. The shaft’s foundation was poured in July, and the “hoist house” began in August.

By October, the electrical substation was complete and online and the mechanical systems installed in the hoist house. Drilling components for the shaft’s pilot hole began arriving on site.

Drilling for the pilot hole began in December and, at the turn of the year, became a 24/7 operation. It was complete by the end of January 2020.

“Raisebore” drilling of the shaft began in February with 24/7 operations.

In this method, a long pipe called the drill string is lowered through the pilot hole to the bottom of the planned shaft. The reamer head, a 16-foot diameter rotary cutting tool, is attached to the drill string and raised upward to form the shaft, the cuttings falling back to the base of the shaft.

Surface work on buildings and infrastructure was halted in March due to the pandemic.

The shaft hole was completed April 22 and the raiseboring equipment disassembled and removed. Formwork and the workdeck were lowered into the shaft for the concrete shaft liner, poured in 40-foot increments using nine to 10 concrete truckloads per hour. The material was lowered down in large buckets.

By the end of May, 676 feet (about 28%) of the shaft was lined. The month of June saw another 730 feet of lining poured, bringing the lining up to nearly 60% complete.

In Brief:

Lighthouse 5K is now virtual

The 2020 Lansing Lighthouse 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run will now be “virtual” events due to the ongoing pandemic. There will be no music, refreshments or crowded start line. Instead, the usual course is open to the public, and organizers are ready to virtually cheer you on as you run a 5K (or mile) at Myers Park (or from your home or wherever else you choose).

Anytime from 5 a.m. on Aug. 29 through midnight on Sept. 6, run a 5K (or one mile) either at the Myers Park course or from a location of your choice. Enter your finish time on run signup using the bib number you were assigned at registration. If you forgot your bib number, you’ll be able to use your email or the last four digits of your phone number.

While in past years, race organizers have guaranteed T-shirts to early registrants and secured professional timing services, this year, they have decided to waive all registration fees for participants with a focus on the community joining together in movement.

Any donations made will support the Lansing cross country programs (modified and varsity, boys and girls) as well as charities that are important to our athletes.

For more information, please contact the race director at lhf.lighthouse5k@gmail.com or visit lansinglighthouse5k.weebly.com.