NEW YORK Lady Liberty will reopen just in time to celebrate the Fourth of July eight months after 75 percent of Liberty Island was submerged during the devastation of superstorm Sandy.

Crews have been working to repair Liberty Islands docks and replacing at least 53,000 bricks used to pave the islands promenade grounds.

Mold and saltwater destroyed electrical, telephone and radio infrastructure after basements were flooded, including that of the Statue of Liberty, said Linda Friar, National Park Service spokeswoman. The monument did not suffer flood damage, she said.

Several buildings on the island will not be rebuilt, however, including the home of the islands superintendent. A two-story administrative building will be rebuilt with its electrical system relocated to the second floor.

We are delighted that Lady Liberty will once again be open to the public, said David Luchsinger, superintendent of the Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island.

The devastation wrought by Hurricane Sandy crippled our operations, he said, adding that emergency funds from Congress helped pay for repairs and the rebuilding effort.

The island will have new and additional security-screening facilities.

Preliminary screening will be on Ellis Island, and secondary screening on Liberty Island, Luchsinger said. He said visitors will be subject to modern screening and detection technology.

The new system on Ellis Island replaces the facilities at Liberty State Park, N.J., and in lower Manhattans Battery Park, which were destroyed.

Luchsinger said the park service will boost security measures at Battery Park, Liberty State Park and on board the ferries.

Go here to read the rest:

Sandy-damaged Liberty Island to reopen by July 4