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The National Park Service (NPS) has updated the completion time for repairs on the USS Arizona Memorial. Visitor access has been suspended since last year due to safety concerns caused by movement on the loading dock and ramp. The repairs were originally due to be completed by October of 2018, but has been pushed back to March 2019.
Since May, the NPS has partnered with the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force to implement a new anchoring strategy. The design phase of the project was completed, and the repair timeline was updated to March 2019. The new USS Arizona Memorial repairs will include helical screws that will screw down to the harbor floor to ensure stability.
On May 6 of 2018, The Arizona Memorial was suspended due to when what was considered minor damage became viewable from the main entry point. However, upon further review, it was revealed that the damage was caused by a failure of the anchor system, which delayed repairs by months. Access to the memorial has been closed since.
However, other Pearl Harbor attractions remain open. Visitors are encouraged to take the harbor tour of Battleship Row. The Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, museums, and bookstore remain open as well as other attractions like the Battleship Missouri Memorial, the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park, and the Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor.
It’s unclear how the recent government shut down will affect the repair date of the USS Arizona Memorial.