HONOLULU — Construction delays related to Honolulu’s awarding of rail contracts before it had the all the necessary federal approvals have cost taxpayers $76 million so far.
The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports the costs are tied to three contracts awarded to Kiewit Infrastructure West Co. and its joint venture, Kiewit Kobayashi, between 2009 and 2011.
The firms hired staff, set up offices and acquired construction equipment after deals were signed. But they had to wait as long as 22 months to start work because it took the city until February 2012 to get all the federal approvals it needed.
Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation board members on Thursday agreed to pay the companies $34.4 million as part of the change orders. That brought the total for the delays to $76 million.