At first, The Port Authority denied there was ever a leak. 

In August, workers started to hear the sound of rushing water behind the walls of lower concourses of the World Trade Center Concourses.

At that time, the Port Authority called in engineering and construction experts to try and identify its cause. When asked about the issue, a Port Authority spokeswoman said engineers had no reports of running water or any known potential issues involving the site's slurry wall, according to DNAinfo.

Now, Port Authority's finally admitted there's a problem.

The World Trade Center Transportation Hub is a $3.7 billion rail terminal, also slated to house Westfield's $1.4 billion shopping center, according to The NY Times.

There's a lot of construction going on. When the Westfield Shopping Center is completed, which is supposed to happen by the first half of 2016, it will house more than 100 tenants, including Apple, Eataly, Michael Kors, Kate Spade and more.

The shopping center will be a four-block-long interconnected network, sitting beneath the four towers in the concourses among them. 

In its center at Church and Fulton Streets will be Oculus, an event space which will stage concerts, performances, broadcasts and fashion shows.

The shopping center was originally supposed to open in August of 2015. However, in August, Westfield told its investors that it wouldn't open until the first half of 2016.

Now, the opening date has probably been thrust further backward by this latest spat of water penetration around the construction site of 3 World Trade Center.

The roof began springing leaks, which The Port Authority traced to the constant spraying by workers to reduce dust levels as they break up concrete. 

"The dripping has been reduced dramatically," said Steven Plate, director of World Trade Center construction for the Port Authority. "We've made some significant progress. Several spaces are dry." 

Plate also said the leak only affected four of Westfield's retail spaces.

Via The NY Times

Did it affect Eataly? Okay, we're being real now. The whole concert hall and Apple Store thing are cool, but we're really wondering when we'll be able to sink our teeth into some delicious chicken parmesan. 

Most unfortunately, Eataly was, in fact, one of the retail spaces that was affected by the leak. Kate Spade and Apple also experienced leak-related setbacks. 

Still, Eataly is slated to open by the spring. Oculus is expected to open in the first half of 2016. By the fall of next year, two new PATH train platforms are expected to be in service, in addition to those already used by commuters.

A mezzanine above the platforms, linked to the Oculus by a grand staircase, is supposed to be finished by the end of next year.

We believe the sun soaked, gorgeous atrium, concert hall, shopping center, and food hub will be worth the wait. Including Eataly's pasta. We'll keep you updated about when we're be able to get into the pretty new space. We're hoping The Port Authority gets that leak stopped up stat.

Check out 6 Reasons Why You Have a Love/Hate Relationship with NYC.

[via The New York Times]

[Feature Image Courtesy UntappedCities]