The Eiffel Tower is undergoing reconstruction to ensure easier and faster access for tourists to France’s main attraction. The plan, an investment of 170 thousand euros comprises a list of technical novelties, which will be carried through until 2015. Most importantly, the handicap access to the tower will be further enhanced, while attention will be more focused on attracting school children and the Parisian public, which currently accounts for a mere 2 percent of ticket sales.
‘Altitude 95’, a restaurant located on the second floor of the tower will also be reconstructed, while ‘Jules Verne’, the first-floor restaurant was reconstructed last year. Patrick Jouin, one of Paris’ most fashionable designers is responsible for both restaurants interior design.
As part of its new plans, the Eiffel Tower will also get more internet savvy, with tickets available online. This ensures that entrance dates and times can be reserved. This is currently only available for tourist groups. The tower’s modernization plans also include the souvenir shops, which are currently not in very good condition. The reconstruction will also include work on the three hydraulic elevators invented by Gustave Eiffel himself. This means that for the next one and a half years, only two elevators will be available for use to serve the millions of tourists that visit the Tower every day. A cloak room will be created at the foot of the tower, a long awaited and requested facility for tourists to leave baby carriages and heavy backpacks before they embark on their journey up the tower. This year, in 2009, the Eiffel Tower celebrates in 120th anniversary.