Beam signed by Obama raised at WTC

2012-08-03 08:01

AFP

New York — A steel beam that was signed by President Barack Obama in June has been lifted into place on the 104th floor at One World Trade Centre.

A crane on top of the building lifted the beam from the ground on Thursday after dozens of people, including construction workers and police officers, added their own signatures.

On 14 June, Obama visited the skyscraper that's being built to replace the twin towers destroyed on 11 September 2001.

The white beam contains the words "One World Trade Centre" painted in blue. Obama wrote in marker: "We remember," ''We rebuild" and "We come back stronger!"

First lady Michelle Obama also signed it.

The beam is 10m long and weighs 5 000kg.

The skyscraper is expected to be completed in early 2014.

- AP