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I'm Shocked!

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The good weather this winter has helped a lot.

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If it is anything like other types of construction, the contractor usually does not set the schedule. It is set by the Architect, government, general contractor, whatever the case may be. They figure how long it will take for each trade to finish their speced out work.

So in this case, the state government said it will take 2 years to finish not the contractor. The schedule was most likely decided upon before the bids even came in.

Since the contractors are ahead of schedule on this job, I would be more worried about where they are cutting corners in order to be ahead of schedule, because with that extra money they receive for finishing early, they will be able to pay off the inspectors to give them a passing grade if you know what I mean.

I am not too familiar with how government awarded contracts work, but if they are finishing the project 6 months ahead of schedule and are awarded $20,000 per day that they are early, wouldn't it be safe to assume that the amount of time estimated to finish the job was incorrect and should have been noticed earlier? Or is this some sort of corrupt government way of giving contractors extra money? "It will take 2 years to complete the project, so we will give you 2 1/2."

PRESS RELEASE FROM DOT


NJDOT Holland Tunnel Approaches rehabilitation advances
$225 million project progresses six months ahead of schedule

(TRENTON)- Acting Commissioner Kris Kolluri today announced that the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) on March 13 will start the second phase of the Route 139 Approaches to the Holland Tunnel Project. The project is currently six months ahead of schedule.

?The initiation of phase two of the Route 139 rehabilitation project six months early reflects NJDOT?s commitment to swift and efficient progress with minimal impact to motorists,? said Acting Commissioner Kolluri. ?NJDOT will diligently implement strategies to mitigate traffic and communicate with motorists as we continue to rebuild the approaches to the Holland Tunnel.?

The 12th Street Viaduct is an elevated eastbound roadway; the 14th Street Viaduct is an elevated westbound roadway. The upcoming construction stage will entail the repair of the lower roadway area where the 12th and 14th Street viaducts merge. Crews will replace and waterproof the concrete deck and bridge walls, repair structural steel, and install steel beams under the viaducts to ensure their structural integrity. In addition, NJDOT will improve motorist safety by securing the viaducts? foundations.

In order to expedite work on critical aspects of the project and minimize delays for motorists, NJDOT is utilizing an aggressive contractor incentive/disincentive program. Under the program, the contractor is subject to penalties of $20,000 per day for work not finished according to the contract. Conversely, the contractor can earn incentive payments of $20,000 per day by completing the project ahead of schedule. The start of phase two six months ahead of schedule reflects the success of the incentive/disincentive program.

Phase Two of construction will require the following changes to traffic patterns:
? From 5 a.m. to 11 a.m., two lanes of the eastbound 12th Street Viaduct will remain open.
? From 11 a.m. to 5 a.m., one lane of the eastbound 12th Street Viaduct will remain open.
? From 5 a.m. to 11 a.m., one lane of the westbound 14th Street Viaduct will remain open.
? From 11 a.m. to 5 a.m., two lanes of the westbound 14th Street Viaduct will remain open.

NJDOT has taken a variety of steps to manage traffic and mitigate the impact of traffic delays during the second stage of the Route 139 project. NJDOT is building a shoulder structure on the 14th Street Viaduct that will provide an additional travel lane for motorists during construction. In addition, variable messaging signs alert motorists of changes in traffic patterns and offer alternate route information. NJDOT by summer 2006 will pave several Jersey City roadways and adjust traffic signals to provide alternate routes and enhance the flow of local traffic in the vicinity of the project.

NJDOT is working closely with NJ TRANSIT to mitigate traffic impacts by encouraging motorists to take advantage of park-and-ride options. The Hudson-Bergen Light Rail system provides frequent service from three major park-and-ride facilities-Liberty State Park (1,248 spaces), West Side Avenue (804 spaces) and Tonnelle Avenue (740 spaces)-with convenient connections with trans-Hudson ferry services and PATH trains to Downtown and Midtown Manhattan. To accommodate increased demand, NJ TRANSIT recently doubled seating capacity on most peak-period trips by
using two-car trains. In addition, light rail service frequency has been increased to five-minute intervals at Liberty State Park and Tonnelle Avenue stations and to ten-minute intervals at West Side Avenue.

NJDOT provides travel resources such as emergency roadway information, weekly construction schedule updates and real time traffic cameras at www.njcommuter.com. Commuter information is available at www.trips123.com as well as on radio traffic reports. NJDOT? bilingual Community Liaison is onsite to answer concerns and provide information to community groups or individuals upon request. Interested parties should call 1.877.NJROADS.

The Route 139 Approach to the Holland Tunnel Project is a federally-funded, $225 million project that will rehabilitate and reconstruct the existing, structurally deficient 12th and 14th Street Viaducts. This project has been made possible through extensive coordination efforts with the City of Jersey City, New York City, Hudson County, New Jersey Transit, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. NJDOT will continue to work closely with its local and regional partners to ensure that the project continues to progress rapidly and efficiently

I am posting this thread to keep you in the loop as information is released. I hope it is helpful.

As a side note, if you have additional questions Mayor Healy, the DOT, and I will be at the next Harsimus Cove Association meeting to discuss in detail.

Best regards
Steven Fulop
Councilman Ward E