The 9/11 Memorial is opening in just over two months, but officials are still searching for an extra $3 million to construct significant portions of the project, Port Authority executive director Chris Ward warned today.
The money is for crucial elements like constructing a security fence and a new visitor check-in area.
Ward was adamant his agency should not be on the hook for the millions, and said that another group needs to step and plug the hole in time for the memorial’s September opening.
“I’m going down to City Hall today to make it clear that somebody else is going to have to find the $3 million,” Ward said at a meeting of the PA’s World Trade Center Redevelopment Committtee.
He said he would talk to Mayor Bloomberg, in his capacity as the chairman of the memorial foundation, to find the funds.
The Port Authority has already paid about $4 million needed for this portion of the memorial, which costs about $16 million in total.
The state and federal government have already put in about $5 million and the memorial has budgeted $4 million for the work.
“It’s an enormously complex operation and you’re seeing construction estimates change and grow over time,” said Ward.