WASHINGTON — The Washington Monument will be closed until at least Thursday, June 4 for elevator repairs, the National Park Service said Monday evening.
The closure through later this week will allow technicians to repair a mechanical alignment issue with the elevator, said National Park Service Spokesman Mike Litterst.
The park service says the elevator problem was caused by repeated elevator shut downs last week from power problems. Electricians and elevator technicians are trying to determine the source of electrical issues associated with the elevator, Litterst says.
The closure through later this week will allow technicians to repair a mechanical alignment issue with the elevator, Litterst says.
He says the elevator lost power around 9:30 p.m. Sunday.
There were 63 visitors on the observation level when the elevator lost power Sunday. All of the visitors walked down the stairs to exit, and one person had to be carried down using a special chair, the National Park Service says.
Also, two park employees were on the elevator at the time and were safely evacuated in about 30 minutes.
The monument was closed Monday and was also closed last week for two days because of electrical issues.
Wash Monument CLSD till Thurs-AM. @NationalMallNPS sz elevator out of alignment #WTOP pic.twitter.com/eBZ904vma0
— Kristi King (@kingWTOP) June 2, 2015
Washington Monument CLSD. @NationalMallNPS expects till Thurs-AM. Power issues caused elevator misalignment #WTOP pic.twitter.com/jkYIbjoIOG — Kristi King (@kingWTOP) June 2, 2015
Editor’s Note: The story has been updated to reflect the number of people on the observation deck and elevator after the National Park Service changed the information Tuesday.
