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First Section Of Spire Lifted Into Place Atop One World Trade Center

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Crews have hoisted the first section of a spire that will sit on top of One World Trade Center.

It took nearly 45 minutes for workers to lift the first section to the rooftop of the 104-story building Wednesday morning.

1010 WINS' Glenn Schuck reports

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World Trade Center construction director Steven Plate said it's an emotional day at the site.

"It means a lot to all of us. It really shows the resilience of the region and even the world," he said. "This is part of history in the making."

WCBS 880's Sean Adams On The Story

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On Tuesday, a barge carrying nine of 18 sections of the steel spire made its way across New York harbor and arrived at Pier 25 after traveling 1,500 nautical miles down the Atlantic seaboard from Quebec.

A team of construction workers lifted the huge sections, each weighing between five and 67 tons, off the barges.

"Everything on this project is either cutting edge, state-of-the-art or something that's never been done before," said Plate.

Spire For One World Trade Arrives By Barge
Parts of the spire for One World Trade Center make their way on a barge from Port Newark to lower Manhattan on December 11, 2012. (Photo by Chris Pedota-Pool/Getty Images)

Once the 408-foot spire is installed atop One World Trade, the building will stand at 1,776 feet. Installation is expected to take approximately three months.

The spire will serve the state-of-the-art, broadcast facility that will be housed at One World Trade.

The building is already the tallest in New York City and once completed, will become the tallest building in the Western hemisphere and the third tallest in the world.

One World Trade Center is slated to open in 2014.

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