Washington (CNN) The outer fencing put up to protect the US Capitol following the January 6 insurrection has started to come down, allowing the public to regain access to the iconic building's grounds. CNN observed National Guardsmen beginning the removal process this weekend, and by Sunday, much of the black fencing that had made the complex a fortress for nearly three months had been taken apart, making way for the typical parade of joggers, bicyclists and other visitors to once again make use of the green space. The removal will come as a welcomed change to a public used to having a generous amount of access to the grounds, something that quickly changed after the US Capitol Police on January 6 temporarily lost control of the building to a pro-Trump mob in a siege that left five dead. In the weeks after, officials erected the fencing -- some of which was replete with barbed wire -- and, aside from the scores of guardsmen and other security people stationed around the perimeter, the only people allowed to enter the grounds were lawmakers, staff, escorted guests and members of the media. In addition to the reopened grounds, some streets near the complex also reopened this weekend to vehicular traffic.

Source: CNN March 21, 2021 17:53 UTC