World’s Most Expensive Public Works Project 2011

World’s Most Expensive Public Works Project 2011. In 1991, ground was first broken for the Central Artery/Third Harbor Tunnel Project. The project was meant to reroute the chronically congested Central Artery (I-93) in Boston, Massachusetts, through a 3.5 mile tunnel under the city for a projected cost of $2.8 billion. Over the course of the project’s duration, the project became colloquially known as the “Big Dig” and its cost escalated to over $14 billion, making the Big Dig the most expensive public works project in the nation. The Most Expensive Public work project Project in the History of California. Just a reminder that the Bay Bridge will be closed starting tonight, September 3, King County's most expensive public-works project ever, the $1.75 billion Brightwater sewage-treatment plant, is about to drive the region's

Originally conceived in the 1970s by the Boston Transportation Planning Review, official planning for the project didn’t begin until the early 80s. In 1987, US Congress passed a bill, later overriding a veto by President Reagan, appropriating funds for the Big Dig.

The project suffered from numerous setbacks. The tunnel itself was dug in an area of pipes, utility lines, subway lines and landfills. Additionally, leaks, findings of substandard materials followed by criminal arrests and even a fatal accident have all shut down parts of the project at various points in time.

The most expensive public work project project in the US was supposedly finished at the end of 2007. However, as of January 2008, 237 serious leaks are being reported as going unchecked.

King County's most expensive public-works project ever, the $1.75 billion Brightwater sewage-treatment plant, is about to drive the region's already-pricey sewer rates much higher.

The cities and sewer districts whose customers are paying the tab are getting cranky about the cost — which doubled even before construction began — and the likelihood that the bill will rise beyond current official forecasts.

Seattle and most of King County's 35 other wholesale customers — mostly cities and sewer districts — have balked at extending their contracts for sewage treatment without a guarantee that the county will stick to its policy of having owners of new homes and businesses pay 95 percent of the cost of Brightwater — which is being built to accommodate growth.

Seattle, which serves 42 percent of King County's sewer customers and doesn't want to pay for the growth in outlying areas, is playing a central role in the dispute.

One result of the five-year-old contract impasse is higher bills. Because the current contracts expire in 30 years, King County can't sell 35-year bonds, which would spread debt payments over a longer period.

The longer the dispute goes on, the shorter the bonds and the higher the sewer rate. The county wants to extend the wholesale contracts to 2056.

  

Just this year, selling 30-year bonds instead of 35-year bonds pushed up next year's sewer rate by an extra 28 cents a month, according to the county.

Construction began earlier this year on Brightwater, King County's third regional sewage plant. Located in fast-growing Snohomish County near Woodinville, the plant will treat waste from new and existing customers in both counties, but growth is driving the project. It is scheduled to open in 2010.

Sewer rates were high even before Brightwater.

The $307 King County charged to cities and sewer districts to treat sewage for each household in 2005 was well above the national average of $209 and the national median of $182, according to a survey by the National Association of Clean Water Agencies.