Superstorm cuts short Statue of Liberty reopening

This May 20, 2009 file photo shows the Statue of Liberty against the deep blue sky in New York Harbor. AP FILE PHOTO

NEW YORK – The Statue of Liberty has officially reopened to the public after a renovation project. The public will just have wait until a massive storm has passed to see it.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and a group of U.S. Military Academy cadets were the first to visit on Sunday. The statue had been closed for a year to undergo a $30 million interior renovation project. Visitors had been restricted to the grounds on Liberty Island during that time.

The renovation included replacing the stairs to the crown, as well as creating wheelchair access to one of the observation decks at the top of the pedestal.

But the monument will be closed Monday and Tuesday because of the superstorm. It is expected to reopen Wednesday.