Wieliczka Salt Mine Renovation
Client: „Wieliczka” Salt Mine, Krakow Saline Museum „Wieliczka”
Technical data:
Maximum workings depth: 327 m
Total length of galleries: 300 km
Total volume of historic chambers: 4,300,000 cubic meters
Largest chamber volume: 12,000 cubic meters
Reinforcement works: 1,400,000 cubic meters
Technology:
Mining and construction methods. Reinforcement methods: wooden pillars, props, reinforcing salt pillars, anchors. Epoxy glass. The works were carried out faithfully recreating technologies from the XVI-XIX centuries.
PeBeKa S.A. has since the year 1985 until March 2009 conducted works renovating and reconstructing the underground workings at the “Wieliczka” Salt Mine – a class zero historical site, that appears in the UNESCO World Culture and Nature Heritage.
The salt mine is the oldest uninterruptedly active production facility in Europe, considered a natural monument, as well as a site of historical and technical significance. The clearing of worn out salt chambers on various exploitation levels as well as the rebuilding of gallery and chamber workings was a saving grace protecting the site from collapse and destruction.
Rigorous mining regulations, investor supervision from the historical restorer, but above all the unique mode of executed works and used technologies, meant to ensure historic fidelity of the workings, reinforcements as well as mine facilities, all demanded high execution quality. The extent and difficulty of the works are a measure of trust given PeBeKa S.A.
SELECTED REALIZATIONS:
- CHAMBERS: Wessel and Piłsudski Lakes – reconstruction of wooden and stone casing, reinforcement of ceiling and sidewalls;
- CHAMBERS: A. Długosz and Warszawa – adaptation for show purposes;
- CHAMBERS: Drozdowice and Mary Therese II – general reconstruction and reinforcement works;
REGIS SHAFT – replacement of casing and waterworks tower, rebuilding of shaft base.