The proposed tunnel to replace the seismically deficient Alaskan Way Viaduct in Downtown Seattle is no stranger to controversy. This article highlights recent discussions regarding the cost of the project. Washington Governor Chris Gregoire declared last month “We have no cost overruns in this project at all, zero” and none are expected. Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn claims the cost overruns could be as much as $1.2B. The current construction cost estimate is $1.1B, and the total including design is estimated at $2B. This article has a nice discussion about some of the potential pitfalls that could cause cost overruns, although they appear to be some worst case scenarios in there. But I learned a great deal about surety bonds, sort of insurance policies for these large projects. [Source: Seattle Times Newspaper via CE News. Image: The Seattle Times]
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PITTSBURGH, PA – January 15, 2010 – Nicholson was awarded a subcontract by Traylor Bros./Frontier-Kemper JV that includes temporary shoring and the construction of the permanent reinforced concrete diaphragm walls for the a new light rail station near the University of Washington’s Husky Stadium in Seattle. The project owner is Sound Transit and the work will be completed in a joint venture with Condon-Johnson & Associates. [Editor] Click through for the entire press release from GeoPrac.net sponsor Nicholson Construction. [/Editor] […]
Centennial of NY Grand Central Station…And What the Future Holds
New York’s famous transportation icon, Grand Central Station (more properly Grand Central Terminal) celebrated the 100th anniversary of it’s opening on February 2, 2013. This rail terminal is more than just a means of travelling from point A to B, but it is a romantic, and grandiose metaphor for the hustle and bustle of American life. While the structure is definitely a cultural and architectural monument, it is also an engineering marvel, a fact recognized in 2012 by ASCE when it named it a National Civil Engineering Historic Landmark.
While the centennial of the GCT is being celebrated, a new project is taking shape approximately 90 feet below the existing tracks. The East Side Access project (ESA) will provide a new connection from the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) to GCT. This project will help…
[Editor] Click through for the rest of this article, including a list of some interesting websites on Grand Central Terminal and the East Side Access Project. [/Editor]