Carlsbad Caverns National Park officials say they plan to have a temporary solution for the lack of elevators at the park by May.
The temporary fix was originally expected to be done by March.
Officials plan to repair some of the steel guide rails in elevators that make the 650-foot descent into the cave. The elevators have been closed for about a year after park engineers said they were too unsafe, noting deterioration in some of the steel rails in the elevator shaft.
Park spokeswoman Valerie Gohlke says the March date was only an estimate for the long and complicated process.
With the elevators out of commission, visitors can reach the underground using the natural entrance — a steep 750-foot descent and ascent.
