Storm-damaged Statue of Liberty to reopen by July 4
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NEW YORK (AFP) - The Statue of Liberty will reopen by July 4 once repairs to extensive damage inflicted on the New York landmark by Hurricane Sandy are completed, United States (US) Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said on Tuesday.
The statue itself, a 19th century gift from France to the US, weathered the Oct 29 storm, but serious damage was wrought on ferry docks, energy infrastructure and security screening system on Liberty Island.
In a conference call with journalists, Mr Salazar said that, based on "tremendous progress" so far, "we will be able to reopen the Statue of Liberty by the Fourth of July this year".
The National Park Service (NPS), which manages the Statue of Liberty that drew 3.7 million visitors in 2011, has been "working non-stop to repair this icon of freedom", he said.
