Construction crews clean the work site at the new Veterans Affairs hospital in Aurora in December. The VA on Tuesday revised its estimate of how much it expects the project will cost: $1.73 billion. (Brent Lewis, The Denver Post)
As I look at the partially finished VA hospital in Aurora, one thing is obvious to me. The design was flawed from the beginning. I see at least four buildings standing side by side and linked by walkways. Any construction official with minimal experience would have known that this is immensely more expensive to build than a single building or perhaps two buildings. Why? Four buildings require more exterior walls than one.
The VA allowed such a mistake in the beginning, pointing out the total mismanagement in that organization.
Our veterans deserve a new hospital. Our Congress and public officials must find a way to complete the VA facility in Aurora. Abandonment is not an option. Future projects must be managed better.
Bob Bamford,Aurora
This letter was published in the March 25 edition.
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