MILAN (AFP).- Artist Christo's floating walkway on a northern Italian lake may have to be closed at night because of wear-and-tear inflicted by the 270,000 visitors who have flocked to see it in less than five days.

The three-kilometre-long (1.9-mile) walkway of 200,000 floating cubes covered in orange fabric has proved a major hit with the public since it opened on Lake Iseo on Saturday.

But plans to keep "The Floating Piers" open day and night until July 3 may now have to be shelved as it is being worn out faster than expected, local officials said.

"We are thinking about a permanent nighttime shutdown, at least from midnight to six o'clock," said Brescia prefect Valerio Valente.

The large numbers of visitors were also proving challenging for local authorities who have to keep the area clean, he added.

The installation will be shut from midnight on Thursday until 7.30 a.m. on Friday for essential maintenance.

The numbers of people who have come to walk on the installation have far exceeded organisers' expectations.

They had estimated around 500,000 would come over 16 days.



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