Crews near finish of time-consuming monument project

Officials expect the scaffolding surrounding the Soldiers and Sailors Monument in downtown Indianapolis will be down in time for the city's Fourth of July celebration.

Scaffolding has been up around the lower levels of the 113-year-old limestone tower since October as crews worked to fix water leaks and damage to bolts holding the monument's bronze figures in place. The work took more time than expected.

Indiana War Memorial Commission Director Stewart Goodwin told WIBC-FM that the repair work has been finished. He's anticipating the scaffolding should all be removed by July 1.

Numerous repairs have been made to the Monument Circle landmark in recent years, most notably when the bronze sculpture atop the tower was taken down in 2011 for restoration work.