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Final Pieces Of Spire Lifted To The Top Of One World Trade Center

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- One World Trade Center is getting closer to becoming the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere.

The final two sections of the 408-foot spire that will sit on top of the building were raised up to the roof onto a temporary platform on Thursday morning. They will be installed at a later date.

Construction workers cheered and applauded as a crane hoisted the U.S. flag covered spire to the top of One World Trade Center.

Final Pieces Of Spire Being Lifted To The Top Of One World Trade Center

"It's a prideful day," one worker said. "It's a great day to be an American."

Earthcam cameras caught the event,  sped the 12 minute crane operation by 98-percent, and created a ten second clip of the project.

PHOTOS: Spire Raised To Top Of One World Trade Center

The raising of the pieces was originally scheduled for Monday, but was postponed because of bad weather.

Final Pieces Of Spire Lifted To The Top Of One World Trade Center

Installation of the 800-ton spire began in December after 18 pieces were shipped from Canada and New Jersey.

The spire will serve as a world-class broadcast antenna and provide public transmission services for television and radio broadcast channels that were destroyed on Sept. 11, 2001, along with the trade center towers.

Final Pieces Of Spire Lifted To Top Of One World Trade Center
Final Pieces Of Spire Lifted To Top Of One World Trade Center (credit: Rich Lamb/WCBS 880)

Once the spire is fully installed, the building will stand at 1,776 feet.

The spire is outfitted with LED lights, WCBS 880's Rich Lamb reported.

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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