This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

NEW YORK (PIX11) – After nearly a decade the scaffolding covering the facade of Manhattan’s iconic St. Patrick’s Cathedral has come down .”

“I just had some very good news, we’re so glad that the scaffolding in front of St. Patrick’s is finally down,” Monsignor Robert Richie told PIX11 Friday.

The scaffolding is part of a $175 million restoration project to clean, retrofit and repair the stained glass windows, intricate stonework and altar niches.

“I remember when it started to go up in 2006, so I’ve been living with it for eight years so I’m extremely happy that it’s gone,” Richie said.   “It’ll be a good thing for New Yorkers for Christmas.”

For more than 130 years the landmark cathedral has hosted more than 5 million people annually.