Washington Monument to Reopen with New Elevator in 2019

The elevator system in the 555-ft.-tall Washington Monument in Washington, D.C. (ELEVATOR WORLD, September 2014), which operates year-round for eight hours a day when open, is being replaced as part of a US$10.8-million refurbishment project, various news outlets, including The Washington Post, reported. The monument, which has struggled with frequent elevator malfunctions, is set to reopen in spring 2019 after being closed since 2016. Philanthropist David M. Rubenstein, who gave US$7.5 million to repair the monument after a 2011 earthquake, is covering the US$3-million elevator-replacement cost. Work underway now also includes a new visitor screening area. The National Park Service awarded contracts for both the elevator system and screening area to Grunley Construction of Rockville, Maryland. Elevator work includes machine-room, electrical and wiring upgrades, as well as a remote-access control system and tracking of speed, leveling and delays.