Statue of Liberty Will Reopen July 4

The Statue of Liberty is expected to reopen this Fourth of July, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced this week. The New York City icon has been closed since October 29 because of damages Liberty Island sustained during Superstorm Sandy. (See a CNN report of that damage here).

“Sandy inflicted major damage on facilities that support the Statue of Liberty—destroying the docks, crippling the energy infrastructure on Ellis Island, and wiping out the security screening system—but we are fully committed to reopening this crown jewel as soon as it’s safe for visitors and not a second later,” Salazar said in a statement. “Based on tremendous progress we have made, Lady Liberty will be open to the public in time for the July 4th celebration.

According to park service data, 3.7 million people visited the Statue of Liberty in 2011, generating $174 million in economic activity and supporting 2,218 jobs.