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Elevator briefly breaks down at reopened Washington Monument

September 21, 2019 GMT

John Lopes, playing the part of President George Washington, stands near the Washington Monument following a ribbon-cutting ceremony with first lady Melania Trump to re-open the monument, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019, in Washington. The monument has been closed to the public for renovations since August 2016. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The newly upgraded elevator at the Washington Monument stopped working just days after reopening to the public following a three-year renovation project.

The National Park Service says there was a “brief interruption in service” for about an hour Saturday.

Spokesman Mike Litterst said Parks Service staffers resolved the issue and visitors who were at the top of the 555-foot stone obelisk were able to return to the ground floor using the elevator.

First lady Melania Trump cut the ribbon Thursday morning as the monument opened to the public for first time since September 2016. It had been closed to replace the elevator and upgrade security systems.

Litterst apologized to visitors for the inconvenience. He said tours were running on schedule later Saturday afternoon.