Memory lane will include some construction zones this weekend for former Central High School students touring the school as part of their 30th anniversary reunion.

SECO construction workers are in the process of adding steel columns to support the school's ceiling.

Mike Kenton, the district's support services director, said the work is the final cap on an investigation completed a couple of years ago that found cracks in the ceiling.

The investigation, completed by multiple engineers and architects, concluded that the structural integrity of the building was OK, but steel beams are now being added "just to make sure," Kenton said.

"It's just as a double safety; we did not find any structural integrity problems," he said.

SECO worker Dana Cummings worked in a waist-deep hole Wednesday morning, shoveling out dirt and rocks to make room for a new footing. The pile of sand and grit spilled up against the Cobbler red of the lockers and Cummings' brown boots were coated with gray powder when he crawled out of the hole.

"It's hard work," he said, grinning. "Have to keep the kids safe."

The work has been going well, said SECO superintendent Dale Grimm. Twenty-two steel columns will be added to the building, and the work should be completed by the time schools starts, Central Principal Mike Talley said.

Contact Kayla Gahagan at 394-8410 or kayla.gahagan@rapidcityjournal.com