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State Representative Joe Atkins
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4192
For more information contact: Matt Swenson 651-297-8406
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WAKOTA BRIDGE IS AMONG MOST-BUNGLED BRIDGES IN AMERICA
ST. PAUL – In a legislative hearing today, the House Commerce and Labor Committee continued it's in-depth investigation of the cost overruns, delays, and labor contract disputes associated with the Wakota Bridge project. After an unprecedented 14-month re-bidding process, testimony from Commissioner Carol Molnau and other MnDOT officials confirmed that the cost of completing the project has increased by 91.4%, making the Wakota Bridge among the most-bungled bridge projects in America. The bridge was supposed to be complete last November, however MnDOT now estimates it will take another three years, and $53 million more than the original $58 million cost.
"This is no simple mistake. It's an inexplicable $53 million fiasco," said State Representative Joe Atkins, who has been leading the committee's six-month investigation of the Wakota Bridge delay. "The colossal mishandling of this project places the Wakota Bridge among the twelve most notorious, budget-busting bridge projects in the country. I hope today's revelations will be a wake-up call for MnDOT to get this job done, once and for all."
MnDOT officials claim that the new bids will be acted on in the next three-to-four weeks, and construction on the eastbound span will resume by April of this year. However, there is some question as to whether or not MnDOT has the funds necessary to move forward. Currently only $51 million has been set aside for the Wakota Bridge in the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) – a state fund for high-priority transportation projects. When asked, Commissioner Molnau indicated that despite the gap in funding, MnDOT still intends to begin construction in the spring.
At the hearing, Atkins remained critical of MnDOT’s efforts to keep secret documents regarding the cost and delays out of view of the legislature and the public. After months of data practices requests, and several hearings, Rep. Atkins has received over eighty boxes of documents from MnDOT pertaining to the contract disputes and cost implications of the project delay. However, late last night Rep. Atkins received a forty-page memo listing over 200 newly discovered documents that MnDOT officials refuse to hand over to the committee – the majority of which pertain to some of the most important issues surrounding the project delay including costs, contract disputes, and more.
"They gave me the bun and all the fixings, but I'm still waiting for the hot dog," said Atkins.
The withholding of these documents is just one of the issues Rep. Atkins will ask the Legislative Auditor to review regarding the long-delayed Wakota Bridge project. Atkins is seeking a full-review of the Wakota Bridge delay by the Legislative Auditor in an effort to ensure costly delays like this never happen again in Minnesota.
"These delays have held south-metro commuters and businesses hostage for too long," said Atkins. "There is no excuse for this incredible debacle. It's time to get this bridge built."
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