How long will it take to construct the underground laboratory? How long is the excavation period, during which trucks will be hauling waste rock?
A23: The earliest date we envision for a positive decision by the National Science Foundation and funding by Congress is sometime during 2008. But delays could occur if the NSF decision process takes longer or if Congress decides other science projects should be funded first. Once funding occurs, if all the permits are in hand at that time, the project could begin. Before construction starts, preliminary activities such as bid preparation, design, and equipment assembly must take place. The construction phase requires the hauling of the rock produced by tunnel and room excavation. The plan recommended by our geotechnical consulting firm estimates that all excavation (tunnels and rooms) will be completed in a period of 2.6 years. Within this 2.6 year period, the most intense construction is the tunnel boring, which is estimated to take 1.3 years. The pace of construction during the remaining 1.3 years is slower: this is the more detailed work of laboratory room construction. This time f
