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Corvette Museum Lays Out Plan to Repair Sinkhole

Corvette Museum Lays Out Plan to Repair Sinkhole
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By West Kentucky Star Staff
Oct. 16, 2014 | BOWLING GREEN, KY
By West Kentucky Star Staff Oct. 16, 2014 | 05:48 PM | BOWLING GREEN, KY
National Corvette Museum officials met on Wednesday with construction personnel and engineers to review the plan, process and timeline for fixing the sinkhole and repairing the Skydome building at the facility.

According to a press release, Sunday November 9 will be the last day to see the sinkhole, before construction is slated to begin the next day. Officials say if everything goes according to schedule the project will be completed by July of next year.

Changes to the room will include a one-level natural color polished concrete floor without the stairs and ramps the current room has; the new garage door to allow for easy display car access as well as the ability to have an open-air entry for after-hours facility rentals; a redesigned drainage system; and 12 foot paved perimeter around the Skydome.

The cost of the project is expected to be a little more than $3.2 million.

While the Skydome web cams will be removed during the construction process, the Plexiglas viewing window will remain so that Museum guests can watch the ongoing work.

The museum team has received numerous ideas and suggestions on ways to tell the story of what happened on February 12, 2014 and provide interesting and entertaining aspects for visitors.  The museum is currently exploring several options that include the opportunity to see down into the caves, and 3-D art.

The museum plans to display the three restored and five unrestored Corvettes in the Skydome once work has completed.

“We appreciate all of the support, feedback, ideas and prayers throughout this very interesting time in our history,” said executive director Wendell Strode.

The team reviewed the step-by-step process of filling the sinkhole beginning with the removal of boulders.  Late November through December the team will then install sheet piling to block the cave openings.  By January, the hole will then be filled with about 4,000 tons of fist-sized stone. The remaining concrete slab flooring in the room will be removed in mid-January. 

Electrical, water and HVAC  repair work will occur through mid-February. Several micropiles and grade beams will be installed mid-February through late March. The micropiles will be spaced 15-20 feet apart at an average depth of 141 feet based on the structural engineering design.  This design will reportedly ensure that if another collapse were to occur, the floor would remain intact.

Following this process will be the installation of additional stone as well as a new concrete slab floor, which is expected to take until late April to complete. The final two months of construction will include the rebuilding of a new entrance with garage door and emergency exit doors, other repairs, repainting, installing new lighting fixtures, a thorough cleaning and other final touch ups.

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