One of lower Manhattan's most iconic spots is being closed to the public for the urgent installation of safety scaffolding -- which could remain in place for up to a decade.
The steps of the Federal Hall National Memorial on Wall Street are a popular photo and seating spot for tourists and financial industry types. But the National Park Service said Wednesday that a recent inspection found "multiple failed stone conditions" that require immediate repair.
The agency said it hired a structural engineer to build a scaffolding platform that would "protect the public from any falling debris." When that scaffolding is finished, which is expected by mid-September, the steps can re-open.
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But visitors will have to get used to some changes -- the Park Service said the scaffolding will stay for "approximately five to ten years."