Into the Depths – Carefully

Sep 1, 2024|On Camera|TK Elevator

TK Elevator
Sep 1, 2024

Looking down into the shaft

New TKE elevators help visitors descend 750 ft below surface at Carlsbad Caverns National Park.

submitted by TKE with additions from EW
photos courtesy of TKE

Since it became a national park 101 years ago, Carlsbad Caverns in southern New Mexico has striven to make the vast cave network as accessible as possible. In the beginning, after the caverns were discovered around the turn of the 20th century, relatively primitive ladders were used by the site’s first explorers. In 1932, this transitioned to an elevator system. But, since a ride cost 50 cents, the system didn’t get much use until after the Great Depression. By the 1950s, visitors to Carlsbad Caverns had risen so much that a second elevator shaft was blasted, and a second set of larger elevators began operation in 1955. During the 1970s, all four elevators in the primary and secondary systems were modernized.^[1]

Now, TK Elevator (TKE) has re-engineered cave access and exploration at the World Heritage site of Carlsbad Caverns National Park by performing a major modernization that involved installing a brand-new elevator system featuring two new traction elevators to significantly improve the primary system. The two-year project included construction of units 750 ft below the surface — equivalent to the height of the Hoover Dam — that travel at 700 ft/min. By constructing a system that travels nearly 67 stories underground, TKE’s precision engineering ensures safe and inclusive accessibility at the site for future generations.

That’s good news for the hundreds of thousands of people who visit the site each year,^[2] as they have a new, reliable system that minimizes the chances of entrapment. In 2018, three visitors were rescued unharmed after being stranded in an elevator that is part of the park’s secondary lift system, which in 2020 underwent a US$16.7-million federally funded upgrade under a contract awarded to California-based Tudor Perini.^[3] When the entrapment occurred, visitors were using the secondary elevator system because the primary one was undergoing a US$4-million modernization. The additional two-elevator system by TKE only adds to the site’s accessibility and safety.

Safeguarding and Enhancing a World Heritage Site

Located in the Chihuahuan Desert of New Mexico, Carlsbad Caverns National Park consists of more than 100 limestone caves, making it a site of scientific and public interest with nearly 500,000 visitors annually. The earlier primary elevator system, installed in 1955, required frequent repair and modernization to enhance safe and convenient travel for visitors.

The new elevator system improves visitor access to Carlsbad Caverns, making it easier for the public to explore the cave’s depths and reducing congestion from working contractors, researchers and park staff. This transit improvement supports the park’s educational mission by facilitating the public’s awareness, understanding and appreciation of its geological formations.

Thoughtful Construction Techniques

Due to the extreme characteristics of the site, installation required a high level of engineering expertise. Among the project challenges was transporting materials to the bottom of the cavern using a reverse construction method that required precision and planning. Each piece of equipment and material was carefully transported down the existing elevator shaft and then accurately assembled to ensure the structural integrity of the new elevator system and minimize potential disruptions to the cavern’s delicate ecosystem.

The TKE team modernized critical components, such as the hoistway divider beams, rails, machines, cables, cab slings and elevator roof. Given the cave’s high moisture levels, system designers used galvanized and stainless steel to ensure durability and corrosion resistance for a reliable and long-lasting elevator system.

Among the project challenges was transporting materials to the bottom of the cavern using a reverse construction method that required precision and planning.

Commitment to Safety and Environmental Protection

A team of six highly skilled TKE crew members adhered to stringent safety protocols and carefully planned and executed each step of the construction process. The planning phase involved detailed risk assessments and contingency plans to mitigate potential hazards. The crew’s dedication to safety and precision protected the natural environment and delivered a fast and efficient new traction elevator system. Jeremy Rainwater, TKE CEO Americas, said:

“This was a unique project that required a focus on sustainability, aligning perfectly with our commitment in the space. The construction process was as distinctive as the setting itself, and now, visitors can safely and efficiently explore this remarkable World Heritage site.”

Partnering with TKE on this project, the National Park Service leveraged modern engineering to keep the caverns accessible for future generations.