Here’s why there are 263 miles of cables under the LDS Salt Lake Temple

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released an update connected nan advancement of nan renewal of its Salt Lake Temple — and shared that location are 263 miles of cables underneath nan temple.

The cables — which nan religion said are post-tensioned cables — are being tally done nan actual instauration of nan temple to amended equip nan building for an earthquake. According to nan church, nan caller “base isolation system” could thief nan temple withstand a 7.2 magnitude earthquake.

“Post-tensioned cables are utilized to transportation nan monolithic weight of nan Temple from its existing instauration to nan guidelines isolators, which will move 5 feet successful immoderate guidance (1.5 meters) successful a terrible seismic event,” nan religion said.

The first constituent of nan “seismically designed” instauration was poured earlier successful 2024, astatine nan extremity of March and opening of April. The actual instauration is scheduled to beryllium completed later successful nan summer.

The temple was first closed for renovations astatine nan tail-end of 2019, pinch building and renovations expected to past astir 4 years. The renovations were group to switch mechanical and electrical systems successful nan building, successful summation to making a “significant seismic upgrade” to nan building.

After first being removed successful May 2020, nan aureate statue of nan Latter-day Saint prophet Angel Moroni was reinstalled connected nan spire of nan temple earlier this year.

Also successful 2024, respective areas connected Temple Square person reopened to nan public, including nan Main Street Plaza. As portion of nan building project, crews are besides constructing pavilions to thief visitors amended understand LDS temples, arsenic good arsenic 2 caller introduction buildings.