According to Bobby Harrison, the Journal’s Bobby Harrison, the closure will be most effective during the three-month regular legislative session that begins Jan. 3. This is when visitor numbers to the state Capitol increase significantly. According to the article, visitors who aren’t government workers were forced to use the south-facing first floor doors of the 171,000-square-foot building after the north entrance was closed Monday morning. The south entrance is located beneath a huge staircase that leads to the second floor. After the terrorist attack on Sept. 11, 2001 many of the building’s entrances were made inaccessible to the public. The story stated that Capitol police officers are responsible for managing public entrances. The north entrance is closed to work on the terrace at the top of the north entrance. This room has a copper ceiling and is located below the terrace that houses the public entrance. The report stated that the area suffered water damage over time, just like the rest of the building.