Work is expected to begin soon on the second phase of the expansion of Mammoth Cave National Park's new visitor center in Kentucky, US.

Perry Bartsch Jr. Construction of Asheville, NC, has been awarded the US$4.3m (£2.9m, €3.5m) contract for the project, which includes construction of a new exhibit space, office space, shelters for visitors waiting for cave tours, a lantern shed and changes to the access road. Further contracts totalling US$1.7m (£1.1m, €1.4m) were awarded to Southern Custom Exhibits, from Anniston, ALA., and Argentine Productions of Pittsburgh, PA. to install the exhibits in the building. The project is an extension of a first phase of construction that is expected to be finished in July this year.

The scheme is being funded with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds and should be complete in September 2011. The first phase, costing around US$7m (£4.7m, €5.7m) was paid for with park fees and contains an information and ticket sales area and restrooms. Once phase one is finished, the old section of the visitor centre will be demolished, with as much of the material retrieved as possible being recycled.