The Statue of Liberty will reopen to the public on July 4, more than nine months after Hurricane Sandy destroyed its docks, security screening system and energy infrastructure.
New York Sen. Charles Schumer told NBC 4 New York Tuesday that the patriotic landmark will reopen on the holiday. The U.S. Department of the Interior confirmed the date is set.
“It’s good news, it’s a little overdue, but at least it’s there and now we’ll watch like a hawk to make sure that this promise is kept,” Schumer said.
In January, Congress approved $59 million for repairing the national parks, but until Tuesday, there had been no timetable for completion, the I-Team reported last week.
A portion of that money will fund the repairs to the electric system as well as the landscaping wrecked by the infamous October storm. A permanent deck will also be installed to make the statue better prepared for future storms.
See photos of the damage to the statue here.
“One thing we wanted to make sure of was that not only would you be able to visit the island but you would be able to climb up to the statue itself, and that will be open on July 4,” Schumer said.
The repairs will also bring back 400 people who work for the Statue of Liberty and about 1,000 who work in the tourist industry.
“It’s coming back bigger and better than before, just like New York was after Sandy,” Schumer said.
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Photo Credit: AP