To bring the new Pumpkin Hollow underground and open pit mine into production, Atkinson performed project trade-off studies, mine planning, constructability reviews, scheduling, and pricing. Atkinson's primary responsibility focused on access to and development of the underground ore bodies and all surface facilities.

In the first construction phase, crews built two shafts—approximately 1,800 feet deep and 2,300 feet deep—with a connecting decline nearly 4,000 feet long. Atkinson also performed access development excavation to the ore and built surface support facilities.