The Freedom Tower

You may have seen recent news reports claiming that the Memorial & Museum costs have risen, according to the National911memorial.org  The organization says these reports are misleading and inaccurately combine costs that are unrelated to the construction budget for the project.”We have already secured the funding for the construction of the Memorial, Museum, and Pavilion.  The current cost estimates for the project, which are based on the 2011 opening date, fall within the available funds as 80% of the construction contracts have already been bid out or awarded.

What is true in these articles is that the Memorial must be completed in time for the tenth anniversary of the September 11 attacks.  Keeping the construction on schedule is the single best way to contain costs.  The Memorial & Museum expects, as part of the Port Authority’s WTC site analysis, for changes and commitments to be made that will allow for the Memorial to be delivered in 2011 in a way that we will be proud to share with the world.”