The weather vane atop the Steeple Building Clock Tower, an iconic sight in downtown Christiansted, will be replaced Saturday morning, causing a detour in traffic through the area.

It is the last piece of the refurbishment of the Christiansted National Historic Site, according to David John Goldstein, chief of interpretation and education at the National Park Service in Christiansted.

“It's part of the huge megaprojects, the ultimate part of the repairs after Hurricane Omar,” Goldstein said.

Other work has included complete refurbishment of the Customs House, work on the Scale House and Company Warehouse, and the painting of Fort Christiansvaern, he said.

The work is being managed by the local firm Tip Top Construction.

Steeple Building is at the corner of Hospital Street and Company Street, so access to Company will be affected from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday for the project, Goldstein said.

The park service said if work is completed early, normal traffic patterns will resume as soon as possible.

– Westbound traffic coming into Christiansted will be directed by a wooden barricade along Queen Street;
– Eastbound traffic will follow its normal traffic pattern along Hospital Street;
– Company Street will be closed to pedestrian traffic between Church Street and Hospital Street.

The traffic closure is being conducted in concert with the V.I. Police Department.