This Land, Your Land

Restoration work at the Bodie Island Lighthouse has been halted because money to complete it is not available, the National Parks Service said Monday.

Work begun in December 2009 was suspended this past January when damage that exceeded expectations was discovered. The NPS said it would have to find additional funding, and said this week the $3.09 million project was being suspended indefinitely.

The NPS needs another $1.6 million to repair cracks found in the braces supporting the balcony near the top of the light, according to The News & Observer.

Scaffolding will start coming down this week, and the lighthouse, which is at the northern end of Cape Hatteras National Seashore, will be shuttered to protect it from the weather. Its Fresnel lens and light are in storage.

A visitor center and bookstore at the base of the lighthouse remain open year-round from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. A nature trail boardwalk at the lighthouse is also open year-round.

The National Park Service has placed the project in its FY 2012 Line Item Construction funding request.