“Air Shaft” mine portal, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania

September 2023

Gate Type: CUPOLA

This hole was the main focus of our Bat Gate Workshop in 2023. This opening, like all the nearby openings gated during these workshops, leads into a vast, collapsing series of complex abandoned anthracite mines. Bats use them for the wide range of temperatures within, and biologists can access small portions of them to assess the health of the bat populations. We add removable bar openings to all of these gates for authorized access. This was a pretty straightforward cupola, and the workshop participants did a great job on it. All photos © Jim Kennedy.

After the expanded metal skirting is placed and the sills are measured and cut, we start plumbing the columns.
Galen has the frame completed, and begins on the hangers.
Galen welds stiffeners in the final bar as the gate nears completion.
The nearly-finished gate with the workshop participants.