“The problem of Notre Dame is not a carpentry problem. We have the wood. We know how to do it,” Gourmain said. “The big issue is regarding the stone.”
Some stones — which support the carpentry — were damaged by the fire and “it’s not so easy now” to find similar stone, he said.
French President Emmanuel Macron wants the cathedral reopened in 2024 in time for the Paris Olympic Games, a deadline that many experts have called unrealistic.
For the moment, the delicate task of dismantling melted scaffolding, which was originally erected to refurbish the now-toppled spire, continues. That job, started in early June, will be completed in October.
The soaring cathedral vaults are also being cleared of debris by 35 specialists on ropes. The organ with its 8,000 pipes was removed for repair in early August.
It is not yet known what technique will be used to create and install the wooden trusses.
The truss mounted for the weekend display is a replica of truss No. 7, more advanced…
