Washington Monument stays closed for next 10 days

WASHINGTON - The National Park Service says the Washington Monument will remain closed for at least the next 10 days as maintenance work continues on its elevator after recent mechanical and electrical problems.

The agency said in a news release that the Information gained in the course of the evaluation will also provide important data for the design of a new elevator control system. It has been closed since Wednesday morning, when the elevator's compensating cable broke loose from the car, causing it to stop between the 490-foot and 500-foot levels. Work to be completed includes inspection and cleaning of the Hostway, checking the integrity of the circuit breakers using thermal imaging, inspection of and any needed repairs to the fans on top of the elevator car and cleaning and lighting work in the stairwell.

The monument was also closed early Saturday night and all day Sunday after a voltage drop of incoming power. And it was closed for nearly a week in July because of elevator problems.