The U.S. Marine Corps Memorial will be refurbished thanks to a $5.37 million gift from David M. Rubenstein/NPS

A multimillion-dollar project to rehabilitate the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial, commonly referred to as the Iwo Jima Memorial, and improve surrounding parkland near Arlington National Cemetery in Washington D.C., was scheduled to begin Tuesday, with some public access limited through February 2018.

The project, announced in April 2015, was made possible through a $5.37 million donation from businessman and philanthropist David M. Rubenstein to commemorate the bravery of U.S. Marines who gave their lives to defend freedom and to honor the continued patriotism and sacrifice of America’s military families.

The memorial will be surrounded by scaffolding during much of the project, and the loop road and parking spaces will be closed. Pedestrians will still have access to the memorial plaza from Meade Street. Visitors are encouraged to use public transportation. The memorial is within a 15-minute walk of both the Rosslyn and Arlington National Cemetery Metro stations. There will be a small tour bus pick-up and drop-off area along Meade Street.

The National Park Service will regild the engravings on the sculpture's pedestal, clean and wax the sculpture and granite base, and improve lighting, landscaping, and infrastructure. This gift will also provide the funding needed to enrich educational materials and park signs.

The road will be rebuilt in its current configuration, but with materials to better support the heavy weight of the many tour buses that use the road daily.

The U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial was dedicated by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on November 10, 1954, the 179th anniversary of the U.S. Marine Corps. Mroe than 1.5 million visitors come to the memorial each year.