Work begins at WTC Memorial.

Work on the World Trade Center Memorial began last week as crews prepared the site for the construction of foundations and footings for the $510-million memorial and museum, designed by architects Michael Arad and Peter Walker.

"This is a great step forward for the Memorial," Memorial Foundation acting president Joe Daniels said. "Over the coming weeks and months, visitors to the site will begin to see the foundations of the Memorial and Museum take shape. A total of 142 footings will be constructed to hold up the structures of the Memorial, the plaza, the Museum, and the Visitor Center. With the 5th anniversary of September 11th approaching, it's time for the public to join our efforts to build a lasting Memorial by making a contribution in memory of those we lost."

Workers from Homdel, N J-based heavy construction firm E.E. Cruz & Company mobilized on the site last Thursday, excavating down to the level at which the foundation will be laid. E. E. Cruz is the first firm on site, having won a $17 million contract for construction of the foundations and footings in July.

"We're ready for this and we're excited," said E E Cruz president Edward Cruz. "This project obviously means a lot to our guys."

The Cruz crew has worked Ground Zero before. On September 11, 2001, E.E. Cruz & Company employees were working directly across the river from the World Trade Center in Jersey City, NJ. The company responded quickly, readying supplies, manpower and equipment to help the recovery effort.

Rui Andre, E.E. Cruz's Equipment Manager and Mark Carlucci, a Local 15 Mechanic and longtime employee, arrived at Ground Zero that afternoon. They both helped by forming a chain with other E.E. Cruz workmen, passing five-gallon pails filled with debris that had been removed by hand from the massive pile of rubble.

Later that day, E.E. Cruz delivered a flatbed truck containing oxygen, acetylene, and burning torches. Soon to follow from Cruz building sites across the region were six off-road dump trucks, a 245 backhoe with a grapple attachment and a 980 loader.

The company continued to work on the site for several months.

Construction of the Memorial began in March with preliminary work to cover the original box beam columns that outline the perimeters of the Twin Towers.

The Memorial is currently on schedule for completion in September 2009.