WASHINGTON — Elevator problems have closed the Washington Monument for the second time in a week, and the monument will remain closed Thursday.
Around 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, the monument’s elevator stopped between the 490-foot and 500-foot levels when a cable broke loose from the car, said National Park Service spokesman Mike Litterst . One employee was on board at the time, he added.
Eighty-four visitors at the top of the monument at the time had to walk down the stairs.
The Washington Monument was closed Wednesday, and will remain closed Thursday while crews repair the elevator’s cables.
The Wednesday incident comes days after another elevator failing closed the monument. The monument closed Sunday after its elevator failed twice in 12 hours. It reopened Monday.
Troublesome elevator operations have been a nagging and embarrassing problem at the Washington Monument.
“It’s certainly frustrating for us, and we know it’s frustrating for the visitors,” Litterst said after the weekend closure.
It is not yet clear when the monument will reopen.
