Construction crews must replace new light rail concrete

By Debbie Messina
The Virginian-Pilot
© January 21, 2010

NORFOLK

Oops. Some of the concrete laid around the embedded light-rail track behind City Hall does not meet minimum standards and is being torn out.

While the mistake was made by a contractor, which must absorb the cost of redoing the job, the timing is unfortunate, Hampton Roads Transit spokesman Tom Holden said. The transit agency has been harshly criticized for cost overruns and schedule delays on the construction of Norfolk’s light-rail starter line. Its president and CEO, Michael Townes, will step down later this month and retire in September.

Holden said about 700 feet of concrete on East Main Street between City Hall and Harbor Park did not pass compression tests. Crews will take 10 days to rip it out and pour new concrete, he said.

“This is more of a nuisance – it will not affect the latest completion date and will not affect the cost because the contractor has to pay for it,” Holden said.

“Re-dos of one kind or another happen throughout big projects,” he added. “Certainly it’s not what the contractor wants. Nobody wants to have that happen. But it can happen.”

About a year ago, HRT said light rail’s $232 million price had jumped to $288 million. Townes told Norfolk City Council last month that the price had risen to $328 million. The next day, it was revealed that it could actually be $340 million.

The 7.4-mile light-rail line runs from the medical complex on Brambleton Avenue, through downtown, to the city line at Newtown Road. It is scheduled to open in early 2011.