The Virginian-Pilot
©
NORFOLK
The tides tricked The Tide.
Transit officials contracted to remove 20 old wooden railroad pilings from Broad Creek to build a new concrete bridge for Norfolk's light rail.
Apparently, though, a consultant who surveyed the crossing was not there at low tide.
When the water receded, dozens more pilings poked through the surface. There were 260 in all.
Hampton Roads Transit's board on Thursday approved spending an extra $369,200 to remove the rest. The agency's change order states that the number of pilings was "underestimated at 20, due to pre-existing piles not being visible except at low tide."
"It's unacceptable; it's inexcusable," Councilman Barclay C. Winn said when informed of the change by a reporter after the meeting.
"The consultants ought to pay for that.... We keep getting beat up and beat up and beat up by their mistakes," he added.
Michael Townes, HRT chairman and CEO, said he does not blame the subcontractor, who he said did "a very professional job."
"When you get into construction, you get unforeseen conditions," Townes said. "It's the same thing when you get under the streets of downtown Norfolk. You're never sure what you'll find."
"That's why you have contingencies."
He added that it's not clear when the consultant examined the site and that water levels vary depending on the time of year.
"Some of the piles may not be exposed, even in low tide," Townes said.
Last month, HRT revealed that light-rail construction was over budget and behind schedule. The cost of the 7.4-mile rail line has grown to $288 million from $232.1 million just more than a year ago when construction began. Its opening date has been pushed from early 2010 to at least mid-2010.
The additional cost to remove the other 240 pilings has already been factored into light-rail cost overruns.
"It's very unfortunate," said Councilman W. Randy Wright, also an HRT board member. "It was a mistake. It should have been identified originally, but wasn't."
On a brighter note, Townes said that by removing the obstructions, Broad Creek will be more accessible to boaters.
The HRT board on Thursday also approved an agreement with the Downtown Norfolk Council to produce downtown signs to assist motorists and pedestrians during light-rail construction.
The contractor building the downtown section of rail was to produce the signs for $165,000. Instead, the Downtown Norfolk Council will do it for $50,000, a $115,000 savings to the project.
The council is already posting distinct black and yellow informational signs downtown for other construction projects.
Light rail will run from the city line at Newtown Road, past Norfolk State University and Harbor Park, through downtown to the medical center on Brambleton Avenue.
The federal share of the project is $167.2 million, the state is contributing $67.1 million and the city is picking up $53.7 million.
Debbie Messina, (757) 446-2588, debbie.messina@pilotonline.com
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consultants
Was the same group of consultants for in Norfolk Tide used in the VA beach convention center and told them an anchor hotel was not needed for the center. Then after it was built another group stated it was both were paid of course. I think they are hiring politicians instead of consultants. Because politicians say anything to get elected and reelected and once on office most have a way of forgeting what they promised. Plus it seems personnel responsibility goes to who ever donate the most money and infulence. Some call it public service many use it to punish the public and line their pocket for the next election.
Its not incompetance its the art or deception
This council knows exactly what they are doing. Simply put; they cut the costs to get the federal money,and now they are going to have the costs overrun because the kick backs will keep coming. Here is a perfect way to squeeze the public monies and filter it out to contractors who will grease the palms. What is worse is that when the federal infrastructural money starts to be dolled out they will be right in line to get more. Norfolk has no transparency and no recourse to hold elected officials to any standard or expectation. Try to call them out on it and then that individual really has to watch out for themselves.I'm all for public transportation and green technology but the city of Norfolk council and mayor are exploiting the need for selfish gain. Broad creek is not that deep and unfortunately neither are the citizens of Norfolk.
Too many clowns
The level of incompetence with this project is astounding! More and more it seems like the city of Norfolk hired idiots for consultants for this project and didn't double check their work. If there is a record book for stupidly handled projects, this one should rate right up there. I may be all for light rail, but it should be built with a level of efficiency.
Pilings? What Pilings?
Having driven over the Broad Creek bridge many time since the start of light rail construction, I have noticed men and equipment working on both sides of the creek every time I crossed. With at least one low tide during daylight hours and some neap tides thrown in for good measure, why wasn't this noticed by construction crews right away? "Hey Jake! If that's not more than 20 piles out there, I'll eat my hard hat!"
So many intelligent responses...
It's nice to know that we have so many people responding to this article that know soooo much about land surveying. Things like this happen on most major construction jobs. Heck, I wonder how many times the VNG contractor laying the gas pipeline from Norfolk to Newport News is going to hit unforeseen utilities or obstructions not shown on the construction plans......
Surprised?
You think this is bad. "You ain't seen nothing yet."
All aboard the Gravy Train
“When the water receded, dozens more pilings poked through the surface. There were 260 in all.
Hampton Roads Transit's board on Thursday approved spending an extra $369,200 to remove the rest. The agency's change order states that the number of pilings was "underestimated at 20, due to pre-existing piles not being visible except at low tide."
$369,200 to remove 260 pilings? That comes to about $1420 per piling. That sounds to me like some real serious tax bucks for essentially just pulling a big rotten stick out of the mud and hauling it away. Where do I sign up to get a piece of this action?. I come highly qualified as I can count higher than twenty. It may be the Tide when it is finished, but it looks to me more like the Gravy Train right now. All aboard!
SO...is the city going to
SO...is the city going to request a refund from the consultant? Unbelieveable!
Marye
Your link to that blog is partially correct. Yes, it would increase the wages of people already in that line of work. However, as their wages increase they hire new people (ie. people to hold up shovels, we see that all the time along construction sites). If there is a large project going on in a certain town, the workers need somewhere to eat and sleep. The materials need to be made in factories then need to be shipped across the country. These are just a few examples of how the initial money will trickle across the rest of the economy. My point is don't read a story, especially someone's blog, and think it is the end all be all.
i can't stomach anymore of this incompetence and outright deceit
citizens of Norfolk, please, if you can let's move!, and if you can't move, please vote the idiots out in may 2010! Ward 2, t. whidbly, ward 3, a. burfoot, ward 4, p. riddick, Ward 5, r.w. wright and ward 1, don williams, are all up for re-election!the only one that is not elected but wholly responsible for these continuous blunders is Mr. Townes, how dare he demand more of our Norfolk taxpayer money,between the incompetance of NRHA and this Light Rail fiasco, we norfolk taxpayers don't have a chance of affording decent communities in norfolk. I also can't believe that the city has the audacity to raise my real estate accessment another $4,000 this year just to get more blood from my anemic self. So in the past four years my humble abode accessment has increased from $110.000 to $414, 000.00 for taxation purposes, resale value according to my bank is $265.000.00 maybe,I cannot support any city council incumbant ever again.