Port Authority: WTC Memorial Will Open For 9/11/2011

Work continues on the World Trade Center Memorial (Photograph by Mark Lennihan/AP)

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At a NY State Assembly hearing yesterday, Port Authority Executive Director Chris Ward testified, "We are on track to meet the commitment we made in October to open the Memorial Plaza by the 10th Anniversary of September 11th."

Ward described the work so far: "We completed the erection of the Memorial’s 'Sector 2' steel, which forms the outline of the Memorial’s North Pool and a portion of the museum. This included over 1,100 pieces of steel totaling over 1,600 tons. Additionally, we completed the removal of the temporary ramp and moved the 'Survivor Staircase' to its final position. As you can tell from the visible progress on the site, the Memorial is really starting to take shape." Still, it's unclear how much access the public will have to the memorial plaza, as construction will be continuing all around it, and what over memorial-related construction will be completed.

The slow timetable at Ground Zero has been an overall source of tension for lawmakers, survivors, victims' relatives, and the general public, and the PA released a "probabilistic timeline" last October. The Daily News reports, "The long-planned skyscrapers at Ground Zero will have to wait, but two low-slung buildings that could one day serve as their bases may go up soon," to avoid having " holes and pits in the ground downtown." Stores could be placed in these pedestals.

Ward added that one milestone the PA didn't hit was "turning over the sites for Towers 2, 3 and 4 to Silverstein Properties." He emphasized the agency was working with Silverstein to "resolve outstanding issues," adding, "Despite the challenging real estate and financial markets, we are working closely with Silverstein Properties to ensure that as much of their commercial office space gets developed as fast as possible." You can track WTC progress at the PA's website World Trade Center Progress.