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Archive photo · 30 July 2012Trump Says Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Is Finished After Contractors Fix Blue Coating, Algae
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Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool renovation completed; pool refilled and open to visitors. Original blue coating failure caused algae growth, project cost rising to over $14 million.
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6 outlets told this the same way.
Pool as Campaign Backdrop
President Donald Trump used the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool as a backdrop for his closing message before midterm elections, speaking Monday in Washington as he focused on repairs to the pond at the foot of the seated statue of Abraham Lincoln.
“Mr. Trump is scheduled to speak at the pool at 2 p.m. Eastern on Monday.”
Trump told reporters in Iowa that the Reflecting Pool was "It's been finished," and he again blamed vandals for the pool's problems while the pool had been closed and fenced off since July.
The pool's new blue waterproof coating peeled up and algae blooms turned the water bright green, and contractors applied a new layer of waterproofing and flushed out the pool's filtration system.
Trump was scheduled to speak at the pool at 2 p.m. Eastern on Monday, after he said he wanted to return to show "how beautiful it is."
Costs, Contracts, and Disputes
The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool renovation drew scrutiny over cost and contracting, with USA Today saying Trump initially said the project would cost approximately $1.5 million and take one to two weeks. The company received a $14.7 million no-bid contract and additional work brought the total awarded contracts to approximately $16.4 million.
An inspection commissioned by the contractor found the new liner had failed in at least 85 places, including areas with blistering, peeling and cracks, and Atlantic Industrial Coatings acknowledged problems with the installation and agreed to complete repairs under its warranty. The Times of India said the project required workers to drain the 2,000-foot-long pool, remove the damaged coating and apply a new sealant, and it reported that the cost rose to more than $14 million in federal contracts, far above the government's original estimate of less than $2 million.
What Comes Next
National Park Service spokesperson Carol Johnson said, "The reflecting pool is a massive, static body of water exposed to the elements," and she added that keeping nearly seven million gallons of water pristine requires constant mechanical balance.
“Keeping nearly seven million gallons of water pristine without over-using harsh chemicals requires constant mechanical balance.”
The Times of India said the replacement coating has a neutral colour and is designed to handle high temperatures and strong sunlight, and it described the National Park Service closing parts of the area around the pool to visitors during the algae period.
The fencing that surrounded the landmark during months-long renovations has been removed, restoring public access to the area, and Trump was scheduled to speak outside the Lincoln Memorial on Monday, Nov. 2, using the newly renovated Reflecting Pool as a backdrop.
The failed repair job became a high-profile symbol of "his second administration’s struggles with governing," even as the pool refilled gradually in recent days.