What does the National Mall construction look like as deadline nears?

While President Donald Trump has claimed the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool renovations are ahead of schedule, a key government deadline for completing the project arrives this weekend.

The deadline for the $13 million project is May 22, according to government documents. The pool's reconstruction, however, still appears to have a long way to go.

Despite the deadline listed in official documents, Trump said the target date for the pool’s completion is July 4th, saying the project “should be” finished by then as the country celebrates its 250th birthday.

He later spoke with more confidence, saying this week crews will "easily" meet his July 4th deadline.

Here are the recent updates on the pool's reconstruction.

What does the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool construction look like?

Views from the Trust for the National Mall's live camera show crews continuing to work on the surface of the pool Wednesday afternoon.

Trump has ordered the surface to be painted "American flag blue," but the blue strips that cover about two-thirds of the pool so far do not appear to be the bright shade of blue the president has envisioned.

Work on the reflecting pool has included fixing leaks, sandblasting, caulking and resurfacing.

"Have substantially upgraded construction materials, including surface qualities, sandblasting granite, and exterior stone and walkways," Trump wrote Saturday, adding that a high-quality sealer will be added for "more reflectivity."

What impact has the the reflecting pool construction had in DC?

Most notably, some of the most iconic views of the National Mall have been stripped away as crews have worked on the reflecting pool for the past month.

For people walking alongside the 2,000-foot length of the pool, they aren't getting views of the calm water or even the construction, but rather black fencing that lines both sides.

Photo opportunities from the Lincoln Memorial toward the Washington Monument now show the reflecting pool drained of its 6.75 million gallons of water. What is usually a picturesque view of the National Mall has been reduced to a work zone as the renovations continue.

The work has also shut down parts of the National Mall. Earlier this month Trump took an unannounced trip to the Lincoln Memorial to view the progress, prompting temporary restrictions on both vehicular and pedestrian access around the site.

Construction has extended past the reflecting pool, with other portions of the surrounding Mall also blocked off. Large stretches of grass have been closed to visitors as crews prepare infrastructure for upcoming America 250 events.

The restrictions are expected to remain in place as work continues into the summer, but for now, the transformation has left one of DC's most recognizable sites largely hidden behind fencing and machinery.