Eleven years after its opening, the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial will close temporarily later this month for repairs.
From Sept. 16 to about May 29, the project will involve repairs on recurring lighting failures in the pools under the memorial benches from water seeping into the fixtures, said Michael Dangerfield, director of Washington Headquarters Service business integration division.
"This project will also replace the entire electrical system at the Pentagon Memorial, including all the bench lighting, as well as the entire electrical conduit that feeds power to the light fixtures," Dangerfield said.
The project will begin with testing and the evaluation of new lighting fixtures against the existing lighting to determine the best solution. The Pentagon Memorial Fund will assist in the evaluation, officials said.
Two phases of closure will take place:
- The memorial bench area will close Sept. 16 and stay closed until the construction's completion in May.
- The Memorial Gateway at the entrance to the memorial will remain open to the public until Nov. 16, and then will be closed until construction is complete in May.
"We are aware of the impact that this closure will have on family members and visitors to the Pentagon Memorial," said Dinesha Spruill, WHS communications specialist. "Every effort has been made to develop a construction plan that will enable the work to be completed in a quick and efficient manner, reducing site closure time. Once completed, the new lighting system will enhance the beauty of the Pentagon Memorial and the visitor experience at the site."
The Pentagon Chapel and indoor memorial will remain open for tours during the outdoor closure. Indoor exhibits include children's artwork and tributes commemorating the 184 military and civilian victims of the crash at the Pentagon on 9/11.
On Sept. 11, 2001, terrorists flew two airplanes into the World Trade Center towers in New York City and flew American Airlines Flight 77 into the Pentagon, killing 184 people on the plane and in the building. A fourth airliner, said to be bound for Washington, went down in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after passengers overtook the hijackers.