Word Of The Year At Ground Zero: Progress
NEW YORK (CBS 2) -- There has been years of red tape and delays. And now for the first time, we are seeing tangible progress at ground zero.
As seen in an exclusive video obtained by CBS 2's Chris Wragge, the skyline in lower Manhattan continues to change.
For eight years after 9/11, the hole in the ground that became known as ground zero was also a hole in our nation's psyche. Now it's pulsing with energy.
"Lot of progress," ironworker Chris Murphy said.
"Yeah, it's going good," ironworker superintendent Kevin Murphy added.
When CBS 2 met Kevin Murphy a year ago Tower 1 was just three stories high. Now, for 175 ironworkers hauling steel, it's all about height.
Chris Murphy said the building is going up two floors every 10 days.
"Yeah, so we're flying," he said.
Cement has been poured up to the 28th floor and steel beams now reach the 36th floor -- 33 floors higher than last year.
In the distance you can see World Trade Center 4 is starting to take shape. And nearby you can see the original footprints of the twin towers with the 9/11 memorial and museum.
On the memorial plaza the first 16 of more than 400 trees have been planted next to what will be America's largest manmade waterfalls, tracing the outline of the fallen twin towers.
There are no visible signs of progress yet at the planned transportation hub and at Towers 2 and 3, but that's not the case at Tower 4.
Last year construction had reached ground level. Now steel beams are six stories high and climbing a floor a week.
Frank Hussey is a Tower 4 superintendent who began work at ground zero just three weeks after 9/11.
"The time is finally here when it's safe to say all projects are underway and progressing well. Within another year or so you'll see all the projects above ground," Hussey said.
On Saturday, of course, the focus will shift from construction to commemoration.
Live coverage from ground zero begins at 8:27 a.m. right here on CBS 2.
