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Melted scaffolding atop fire-ravaged Notre Dame Cathedral will be removed “in the coming weeks” to allow restoration work to begin next year, Frances culture minister said Tuesday.
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Its been six months since an April 15 fire gutted the medieval Paris structure, which was under renovation at the time and crisscrossed with scaffolding where its spire once stood.
The twisted metal remained in place after the fire as engineers tried to determine whether removing it would exacerbate structural weaknesses from the blaze.
French Culture Minister Franck Riester said that before rebuilding can begin, several more months of conservation work done in parallel with an evaluation of the cathedrals soundness need to be completed.
“Our Notre Dame de Paris is not yet totally saved,” Riester told reporters.
Five-year goal
President Emmanuel Macron promised in April that Frances beloved landmark would be restored within five years. Critics say his timeline is overly ambitious.
The culture minister offered few hard deadlines. He told reporters Tuesday that the French government prioritises quality over speed, though he said the five-year timeframe represents the states “ambition to mobilise”.
“For us, the top priority is to do a quality restoration that captures the height of what our history represents for our country, for Paris, for the Catholic religion, for Notre Dame,” Riester said.
The government has not settled on a particular path for reconstruction. Riester promised wide consultation and debate. As head of state, Macron has the final word because the French government owns Notre Dame.
“We are determined to do things in a totally transparent manner,” Riester said.
The budget for the project also remains undecided. Some 350,000 donors have given or pledged a total of €922 million ($1.02 billion), according to Riester.
The Notre Dame Foundation has received €104 million ($114 million) to date.
Lead contamination fears
Riester also addressed public criticism that French officials were slow to recognize the potential harmful effects of melted lead from the cathedrals roof that drifted into the air and onto surfaces below.
