WASHINGTON, D.C. – Water leaks have caused cracks and rust in the U.S. Capitol dome, prompting a major restoration project.
The damages to the Capitol building are forcing architects to embark on a two-year, $60-million restoration project.
The architect of the capitol, Stephen Ayers, describes the process, “it’s important to know that these cracks and missing pieces, many of those you see before you today, are water leaks into the dome, and water of course and cast iron don't work well together and that process of water incursion and cast iron just continues to rust and rust and rust and make conditions worse. So with nearly 1,300 cracks, and we see the pace of cracking and deterioration accelerating, we thought it was important now, after 50 years, to intervene and do some preservation work on the dome.”
Scaffolding will go almost all the way to the top of the 289-foot structure.
Officials say contractors will do the majority of the work at night and on weekends in reduce any impact on work at the Capitol.
The restoration will begin in spring 2014.
