Abstract: A support system is for a longitudinal mining gallery or the like, wherein the gallery is defined by at least a circumferentially extending rock eruption. The support system includes an inner shell including a plurality of wall segments and a plurality of flexible elements. An outer shell of construction material includes a plurality of outer segments between the inner shell and the rock eruption. Each of the wall segments extends circumferentially and includes opposite ends. Each of the wall segments is adjacent a corresponding outer segment of the construction material. At least one of the flexible elements is disposed between adjacent ends of circumferentially adjacent wall segments. The inner shell and the outer shell are circumferentially flexible. The invention also includes a method of supporting the longitudinal mining gallery or the like.