Washington Monument Reopening Has Been Delayed: Report

WASHINGTON, DC -- The Washington Monument was supposed to reopen this spring, but that has been put on hold after the discovery of possibly contaminated underground soil, according to a report.

The Washington Post reports that the soil poses no threat to public health, citing the National Park Service, and probably dates back to the 1880s when the monument was being completed.

Now, the Washington Monument is expected to reopen in August as NPS deals with the new issue. The monument has been closed since August 2016 for the construction of a new visitor screening facility and modernization of the elevator.