World Trade Center Oculus's Skylight Will Remain Closed For 9/11

WORLD TRADE CENTER, NY — Following ongoing leaking problems, the Port Authority said Thursday the skylight will remain closed for the September 11 commemoration events next week.

Typically, the Oculus's skylight is opened up to allow light inside the transit hub at 10:28 a.m. — when the north tower of the World Trade Center collapsed during the 9/11 attacks eighteen years ago, wrote Curbed, which first noted the Port Authority's announcement.

The authority said Thursday the skylight "will not be opening on September 11 due to continuing engineering analysis necessary to repair the skylight operating systems."

An authority spokesperson told Curbed in a statement: "Under the advice of expert consultants, we are conducting engineering analysis on the Oculus skylight operating systems and reviewing carefully the best approach to repair a complex, one-of-a-kind architectural feature. ... Our priority is to get it right."

Earlier this summer, it was discovered that a rubber seal along the skylight may have ripped during 2018's 9/11 anniversary — causing leaks inside the $4 billion World Trade Center transit hub, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The newspaper wrote some $30,000 was spent over the wintertime to plug leaks with sealant tape.

The authority will still hold an interfaith remembrance service at St. Peter's Church at Barclay and Church streets in Lower Manhattan at 2 p.m. on September 11.

Additionally, the world's largest free-flying flag will be flown at the George Washington Bridge 7:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Wednesday.