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9/11 memorial OKs largest contract yet

The Associated Press

Builders of the Sept. 11 memorial have approved its largest contract yet -- $103.9 million for the reflecting pools over the twin towers' footprints.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has awarded the contract to a concrete maker, Navillus Contracting Inc., and the main contractor for the memorial, Bovis Lend Lease.

The money will pay for 36,000 cubic yards of concrete to build the memorial to the 2001 terrorist attacks. The concrete will help build the waterfall-filled reflecting pools built over the spots where the twin towers stood.

The Port Authority, which owns the World Trade Center site, says it will begin installing steel at the memorial this summer; the memorial and underground museum are expected to open in phases between 2010 and 2011.