NEW YORK - The Port Authority Wednesday released a report detailing the progress it has made to achieve major rebuilding milestones at the World Trade Center site - including the installation of 1,600 tons of steel for the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, the completion of the foundation for One World Trade Center, the Freedom Tower, and the start of procurement of 22,000 tons of steel for the World Trade Center Transportation Hub.

The report, which can be found at www.wtcprogress.com, said that eight of the nine major milestones have been completed.  The remaining milestone - the completion of excavation work in the Tower 2 and Tower 4 areas - is continuing.   

The major milestones were established as part of the World Trade Center Assessment, a comprehensive review of all of the major public projects on the World Trade Center site, which was released in October.

The eight major milestones achieved by the Port Authority are:

World Trade Center Transportation Hub:

       Turnover of final construction documents to Phoenix Constructors.
    Start of procurement of 22,000 tons of structural steel.
    Start of South Mezzanine steel installation.

National September 11 Memorial & Museum:

       Complete steel installation in Sector 2 area (northern part of West Bathtub).
    Complete structural design of pavilion.

Vehicle Security Center:

       Contractor mobilization for the construction of the foundation walls.

One World Trade Center, the Freedom Tower:

       Complete the foundation work, which included pouring 15,000 cubic yards of the strongest concrete ever used in a New York City commercial office building, the equivalent of 60 miles of New York City sidewalk.

    Complete South Core shear walls to grade

In addition to meeting these construction milestones, in the past quarter the Port Authority also rolled out an aggressive community outreach program, including:

       Opened a new Office of Program Logistics to communicate regularly and openly with the residents, businesses and public officials of Lower Manhattan;

    Launched a new Web site - www.wtcprogress.com - to provide the public with all-inclusive information on the rebuilding effort;

    Started “Ask the Port Authority” - in which top rebuilding officials answer questions from the public about various projects;

    Created WTC Updates to provide notification about progress at the site;
    Replaced the fence surrounding the construction site with a wrapping of designs depicting progress on the site and what it will look like when it is rebuilt;

    Installed signs around the site informing illegal vendors that they are not allowed to sell merchandise around the site, and asked police to step up enforcement efforts; and

    Widened and repaved the Liberty Street sidewalk to make it easier for pedestrians to walk through the area.

Looking ahead, First Quarter construction milestones include:

       Removal of the ramp leading from street level into the Memorial site.
    Completion of South Mezzanine steel installation.
    Start of construction on the West Street slurry wall.
    Begin construction of the deck over the East-West Connector, which will ultimately support the section of Fulton Street that crosses the site.