FILE - A Monday, June 12, 2017, photo from files showing a man working on scaffolding on the Houses of Parliament in London, as scheduled renovation works continue. British authorities say the cost of repairing the tower that houses Big Ben have doubled. Parliamentary authorities said Friday the cost of repairing the Elizabeth Tower is now estimated to be 61 million pounds ($81 million.) It was previously estimated to be 29 million pounds. Authorities say the complexity of the project and scaffolding needed enable workers to reach heights safely resulted in increased costs. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham, File)
September 29, 2017 - 11:00 AM
LONDON - British authorities say the cost of repairing the tower that houses London's famous Big Ben has doubled.
Parliamentary authorities said Friday the cost of repairing the Elizabeth Tower is now estimated to be 61 million pounds ($81 million). It was previously estimated at 29 million pounds.
Authorities say the complexity of the project and the scaffolding needed to enable workers to reach heights safely has resulted in increased costs. The last extensive conservation works took place more than 30 years ago.
The works have been controversial because Britain's most famous timekeeper, London's Big Ben bell, will fall silent on all but a few special occasions during the repairs.
The clock tower — also commonly called Big Ben, but formally named the Elizabeth Tower after Queen Elizabeth II — is one of London's most-visited buildings.
News from © The Associated Press, 2017