New York  - The Statue of Liberty's crown, which has been closed to visitors since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, will reopen on July 4 - US Independence Day - the government said Friday.

Visitors will be able to climb the narrow staircase to the crown, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said. Closed mainly for security reasons since the attacks, 30 visitors will soon have access to the crown every hour at the park on Ellis Island, where millions of European immigrants were welcomed to the United States at the turn of the 20th century.

The number of people entering the statue to walk up to the crown is expected to increase after the opening day. There is only one narrow, 168-step circular staircase, so the flow of tourists has to be restricted.

The statue's pedestal and lower observation deck were reopened to the public a couple of years ago.

News reports quoted New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg as saying he he supported Salazar's decision.

"I've always said if they can open the crown safely, they should do it," he said. "And there's been discussion over the years as to whether they can because it's a narrow stairway going up and only one stairway rather than two."