The US Secretary of the Interior announces the readiness of the authorities to begin excavating the construction of a new memorial arch in Washington

Burgam said that the American authorities are preparing to begin the excavation work necessary to build the structure within the next two weeks.

The US Secretary of the Interior predicted that the arch would become "one of the greatest works of American architecture."

The US Department of the Interior is responsible for maintaining many national memorials and monuments in the United States.

The US Commission of Fine Arts previously approved the architectural design for the arch proposed to be built on Columbia Island, on the path between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery. The structure itself is expected to reach a height of about 51 metres. With the addition of the winged Lady Liberty statue above it, it will reach a height of about 76 metres.

Some veterans have filed lawsuits to stop construction of the project, arguing that the arch, which US President Donald Trump has boasted would be the "largest ever", would block views of the graves of "America's fallen heroes."