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Ground Zero Excavation Slow, Pricey

NY Port Authority faces millions in penalties on delays

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 13, 2008 10:37 PM CST
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(Newser) – Ground Zero in New York City is a magnet for patriotism, skepticicm and frustration; underground, it continues to be a very costly challenge. Excavation preparatory to rebuilding is moving so woefully slowly that New York's Port Authority has accrued late fees of $300,000 a day since Jan. 1, with penalties of over $13 million due to Silverstein Properties, which will build two office towers on the site. 

The delays are typical of the authority, says a former director, "thanks to the bureaucratic maze that exists there." But the current director says “paperwork” isn’t the problem; rather, “it was the challenge of doing a project of this scale in this short a time.” Work on the 6.7-acre “East Bathtub” has cost $250 million thus far.

Excavation continues at the southeast corner of the World Trade Center site in this file photo of Aug. 20, 2007 in New York. The site's owner, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, had a deadline of Jan. 1, 2008 to excavate foundations for two of five planned...
Excavation continues at the southeast corner of the World Trade Center site in this file photo of Aug. 20, 2007 in New York. The site's owner, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, had a deadline...   (Associated Press)
Construction work continues on the Freedom Tower at the World Trade Center site on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2008 in New York. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
Construction work continues on the Freedom Tower at the World Trade Center site on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2008 in New York. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)   (Associated Press)
The 'survivors staircase' remains at the World Trade Center on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2007 in New York. The staircase, which will be preserved, is the last remaining piece of the World Trade Center remaining above street level.The trade center, destroyed in the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, will be...
The 'survivors staircase' remains at the World Trade Center on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2007 in New York. The staircase, which will be preserved, is the last remaining piece of the World Trade Center remaining...   (Associated Press)
Construction continues at the World Trade Center site on Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2007 in New York. The cranes, center, are working above the foundations of the Freedom Tower. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
Construction continues at the World Trade Center site on Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2007 in New York. The cranes, center, are working above the foundations of the Freedom Tower. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)   (Associated Press)
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Ground Zero • World Trade Center • Freedom Tower • Larry Silverstein • September 11 • office buildings • Port Authority • Silverstein Properties

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