Comments on: Some Context

By: Dennis

Dennis — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 12:04:37 +0000

When you were a kid, you instinctively knew whether or not a tree branch would hold your weight. This is because humans have an innate sense of structure. Everyone that sees this bastardized bridge design will know something’s wrong… It will be embarrassingly obvious that the cables are superfluous.

The original design was so right and pure… and now it’ll just be a monument to value engineering and myopic bureaucracy.

Shame on us.

By: Jeffrey

Jeffrey — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 03:48:00 +0000

Wait a minute, I thought building materials (steel, etc) were LESS expensive in our current economic climate. Which one is it? I remember Butzer and his crew on the Oklahoma Creativity show touting how cost effective this piece was going to be because they were utilizing similar building materials used in the local oil and gas industry (tube steel, among other things).

Somethings amiss here.

By: dustbury.com » Retrench mouth

dustbury.com » Retrench mouth — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 00:03:20 +0000

[...] are, we are told, reasons for the cost overrun, apart from the fact that it was going to be downtown and everything seems to cost a whole lot more [...]

By: Doug Loudenback

Doug Loudenback — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 17:51:56 +0000

If you know, when is Bryan Dean’s in-progress story going to hit the Oklahoman’s print-waves or air-waves? I didn’t see it in this morning’s (10/26/2010) paper Oklahoman, though I read through it closely for that purpose. I suppose that the City Council has already made its decision by now, although I don’t know what it is. I guess that Bryan Dean is still working on his story.

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 16:49:23 +0000

While I emailed the mayor urging him to advise the council on possible alternatives to building the project as originally conceived, I do believe OKC should send a strong message to city leaders that those in charge of calculating estimates need to get better at their math. It is tough to pinpoint the cost of a project that won’t be built for six years after voter approval.

Either way, it is disappointing that there was little to no leg room to consider alternative funding sources.

By: Larry OKC

Larry OKC — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 09:18:43 +0000

While I can understand the relocation of the bridge required the City to buy additional land, what are they using the original land for? Can’t they sell it? That part should be a wash.

Think I read that they didn’t figure in cost increases, inflation etc. That should be a fundamental part of the budgeting process. Doubling of material costs is hard to foresee and the regulations getting changed on you in mid-design is also understandable but an “iconic” bridge has been planned for 21 years (which could help explain the material cost increase, but then again they said they didn’t factor that in). One article said that it is being paid for with General Obligation bond money from 3 separate bond issues going back that far.

Seem to recall part of the “context” of the original MAPS cost over runs were they didn’t include environmental impact studies, landscaping etc etc as part of the budget. Overall, MAPS ended up being 47.75% over what voters were pitched.

Just see more of the same with MAPS 3. only time will tell.

By: Larry

Larry — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 04:15:32 +0000

I don’t see the relevance in comparing a six lane, 1,870 foot automobile bridge to a pedestrian bridge over I40 even if it a stunning “signature” piece. I agree, however, that we should find some way to build our bridge as originally conceived. Perhaps some kind of corporate sponsorship or a public “buy a brick” type of campaign.

By: Larry OKC

Larry OKC — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 03:12:44 +0000

John, the original estimates were about $3.3M and now it is in the $12M area (almost 4 times as much as originally thought). Granted that 1st number was before designs were complete and the job bid out. If not mistaken, the $1.5M you are talking about is the increase since it was bid out. Don’t have any of my info handy so may be off a bit.

Steve, as usual, interesting stuff…

By: John Y

John Y — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 02:24:19 +0000

My understanding is that it is over budget by about 1.5 million. My opinion is to build the bridge and pay the overcost as this type of architecture is needed for OKC.The bridge they are building over the Trinity River near Downtown Dallas is costing $100 million, however, it was designed by “famed” Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. It is quite stunning and is a great “signature” piece for Big D.

By: Jeffrey

Jeffrey — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 01:22:31 +0000

No way this project should move forward if a redesign is required. Scrap the whole thing and go back to a request for proposals. If Butzer doesn’t like it – tough. Do your homework next time. How is this any different from the ocura proposal changes we bemoan all the time.