Sometimes you don`t have to go digging for a story, having Eyes Wide Open and a photographic memory is a big help, breaking news on CKNW..........
Gordon Campbell stated today at a photo-op that.....
"The Port Mann bridge will not only be ready a year ahead of schedule but also it will be on time and on budget"
Ok friends, are you ready for a belly buster?.........I am laughing my face off and shocked at the same time.....Gordon Campbell must be so desperate or he really has lost his mind, when I heard this announcement today (July 22/2010) about the miraculous 1 year ahead of schedule Port Mann bridge and highway upgrade.......It sounded familiar, where did I hear that before?
First off......The part about the Port Mann bridge being on time and on budget, as you will remember, the MaQuarie group was supposed to finance the bridge and run the tolls, the MaQuarie group couldn`t raise the money, even though the MaQuarie group is milking a $100 million dollar cash cow every year for maintenance on the Sea to Sky highway, despite that cash infusion of tax dollars the MaQuarie couldn`t raise any money for the P3 Port Mann bridge project, so out of the blue Gordon Campbell announced that the Province(the taxpayers)....Would be borrowing billions of dollars and pay for a design build on the bridge, all costs and risks would be borne by the taxpayers and the monies will get paid back in tolls.....
That in itself was shocking, tear down a perfectly good bridge at a cost of $400 million dollars only to replace it with a hurtful toll, the whole exercise is about wealth transfer, .......
Today`s press release...Let`s break it down!
- The project originally was going to be paid with private money and paid back with tolls.
- The project`s financing was changed from private P3 money to all BC taxpayer money, and again to be paid back in tolls.
- When the Province took over financing the project the scope of the project was changed to a design build formula.....What that is ......The company bids a price, the Province agrees to the price, any cost over-runs would be the responsibility of the builders.
On February 4/2009 ......Gordon Campbell announces the start of construction on the New 10 lane,pay both ways Port Mann bridge.......Read that announcement here
So here`s the deal, on February 4/2009 Gordon Campbell announces the start of construction, he has the prices quoted for this "design build" .....A grand total of $3.3 billion for this project...
Could somebody please tell me how a design build project .....As was announced today(July22/2010)....With a price tag in the billions could be A WHOLE YEAR AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.........And the price remains the same?....1 years worth of no labour, no cranes, labour costs being one of the biggest factors in large projects, a whole year being cut off the build time and the price doesn`t budge!....
Who is screwing who?...Either the builders conned the Province or the taxpayers are being conned by the Province, take your pick.
How can the price remain the same?
How can Gordon Campbell claim today......July 22/2010 and I quote...
"The port Mann bridge will be ready in 2012, a whole year early and the project on time and on budget" snip
Let`s look at the timeline....On Fegbruary 4/2009 Gordon Campbell announced the construction of the Port Mann Bridge was starting, Gordon Campbell in that February 4/2009 press release also announced the price.........
So perhaps one of my astute contributors could explain to me how on July 22/2010 the project is a year ahead of schedule, on time and on budget?..........
Now perhaps you are wondering why I am hammering on the July 22/2010 date....Well...
On February 4/2009 the Campbell Government announced construction to start on the Port Mann......Let`s cut to the chase.....
Because like I said, sometimes the stories seek me out....Because where did we hear this before, where did we hear today`s July 22/2010 announcement before?...HMMM...
Well April 17/2009 comes to mind......
Because on April 17/2009 there was another Gordon Campbell press conference and photo-op on the Port Mann bridge............
A mere 6 weeks after the start of construction(March 4/2009)......A mere 6 weeks after the construction started a press conference was held under the old Port Mann bridge....And what did Gordon Campbell say on April 17/2009?
He said the exact same thing as today`s July 22/2010 photo-op/press release/slash propaganda....
What Gordon Campbell said...1 month before the 2009 election on April 17/2009.....
"The Port Mann bridge is 1 year ahead of schedule and it`s on time and on budget" snip
We had the same, identical recycled press release brought out and re-ran for the public today, July 22/2010......
You can read the same press release as today`s here....Although this re-ran press release was April 17/2009.
Let`s wrap this up....The identical photo-op and press release happened today, identical to the on April 17/2009, but the questions remain....
- How could Kiewit and sons and Flat iron start construction and 1 month after starting construction lop off 25% of the time, the labour, the expenses?
- How can the price not have changed, the cost was $2.46 billion for a 4 year build and the price for a 3 year build is the same $2.46 billion.
- How can Gordon Campbell hold the identical press release/photo-op ....On July 22/2010 and the April 17/2009 .....They were identical, 15 months apart....Certainly the media can`t be that stupid, can people`s memory be that blind!
So that`s the deal friends, explain how within days of the first shovel going in the ground on the Port Mann project 25% of the time was loped off but the price didn`t change, what if the project went the other way, there is something wrong with the pre-bid.....The admitting it`s going to be a year ahead of time means we got ripped off because....If Kiewet and sons bid on a project of 4 years, they would have placed 4 years of costs in their bid, now it`s gone down to 3 years, but the price didn`t change, WE HAVE BEEN SCAMMED!
And how on earth can Gordon Campbell fake out the media with today`s press release. .....Did not one media say.....Hey, didn`t you say the same thing last year on April 17/2009?....Where are the questions...
I suggest the media starts with how come 25% of the costs like labour/cranes/mangers/trucks/fuel, even the PST was loped off the project and the price remained the same?
The Straight Goods
Cheers-Eyes Wide Open
17 comments:
your facts are wrong.. this bridge was always planned to open at the end of 2012.
Also, I don't know if you have noticed but the company that is building the bridge is Kiewit Flatiron general partnership.. which is a joint venture between Kiewit infrastructure company and flatiron corp.
Lastly, much of the cost for this project is permanent materials. This cost does not change based on building it faster. Also if Kiewit Flatiron is building is 1 year faster they must be working longer hours than expexed. The man hours to build the project could be very similar.
even though its built faster does not mean there are less man hours involved in building it
Gordon Campbell lies.
You folks are missing the picture, and or you are scared of the truth...
The project barely had a shovel in the ground and there was a .....
April 17/2009 Gordon Campbell press conference announcing the project was 1 year ahead of schedule and on budget!!!!
Gimmee a break, 1 month and it`s announced as 1 year ahead of schedule....And how can you make the claim on April 17/2010....That it is on budget...1 month into a 48 month project(miracuously reduced to 36 months)
And why the identical press release/photo-op today.....April17/2009/July 22/2010....The same identical mirror image photo-op/press release....
Go spin, I don`t care...1 year less of trucks, of fuel...cranes...managers...And they aren`t working double shifts, in fact the truck drivers are being paid peanuts....
The Port Mann project is a scam period....They could have, and should have buily a 6 lane bridge one way.....Kept the good for another 100 years existing Port Mann bridge and the people pay but 1 way.....
Too easy....Your argument fails....Pony up the new added extra overtime pay and double shift schedule....Provide that information...You can`t.
Slow day in Victoria boys?
Kiewit is pouring the concrete too fast for the main spans (and some of the piers) in order to meet Gordo's political deadline.
More importantly, that is resulting in too much "honeycombing" during the concrete pours in both of the main towers of the cable-stayed bridge.
This excessive concrete "honey-combing" will result in the structural weakness of these twin towers, which could potentially lead to a catastrophic failure in the future.
Alternatively, perhaps 50% of the 10 lanes might have to be shut down in the future in order to mitigate such as catastrophic failure.
Dig around deeper, much deeper, on this matter and you will have stumbled upon the story of the year. Too many people are being told to shut up and have been threatened if they open their mouths.
Deep Throat.
I was doing some chauffeuring of relatives today and only caught snippets of news reports on CKNW, but did hear some reporter or newsperson state that the announcement today was identical to Gordo's pre-election announcement. It will be interesting to see if Palmer or Baldry bring this up tomorrow on the Cutting Edge of the Ledge.
I am starting to wonder if we may be looking at a leaky condo scenario down the road with respect to some of these major projects that have been fast-tracked. The 200th street overpass has a severe bump when one drives over it northbound. The new Golden Ears Bridge has cracks in the concrete that are already being slated for repair. I believe that the new bridge going into Kelowna had some problems. Although I know diddley squat about construction, I am becoming very suspect about the quality of many of the projects that have been created in the last while.
Has the need for expediency, politically motivated, compromised the integrity of some of these projects? Has the need for frugality compromised the integrity of some of these projects? Has the need to maximize the profitability by the constructors compromised the integrity of some of these projects. I suspect only time will tell, but the answer could be very well devastating to those that find the answer.
All I know is that if the new Port Mann Bridge performs as well as the Playnow website, I will not be in any hurry to utilize it. I have much more faith in the Patullo Bridge, only because it has withstood the test of time.
Cam
If you believe anything but the opposite of what comes out of Campbells mouth then you are also a fool. So, the project will be a year late and a billion cost overrun.
And I wouldn't trust anything done by Kiewit. Remember them? The contractor on the coca cola highway? You know. the highway where they were putting in a bridge and one side of the canyon was 12 feet or so higher than the other.(may be wrong on the height) The road that was so full of frost heaves that truckers refused to use it because it played hell on their rigs.
Oh yes, Peter Kiewit and sons the anti union (meaning users of unskilled labour and management) pals of Campbell.
A caller to CKNW brought up the issue of Campbell's announcement being identical to one he gave before the last election. Good, Palmer and Baldrey avoided the issue of this re-announcement and instead made a comment about whether it will be on budget or not.
And of course they did their weekly tapdance on the HST. All-in-all another underwhelming performance by the three amigos.
Cam
I think it is important to remember why Gordon Campbell lies to the public and behaves like a sociopath.
He and his ilk are working to dismantle our social infrastructure and to transfer even more money to the elite - and the elite is an important distinction.
"Millionaires" are relatively common in home value alone in BC - our dollar is devalued.
Wealth is being highly concentrated at the top most elite and Gordon is in their service.
Too right ANON 2:23 - David Rockefeller doesn't issue invitations to join their ranks...even as mere servants...for no reason.
Bet that made the little man feel important!
Thank you for this article. It is shocking news to say the least!!!
When ever anything comes out of Campbell's mouth, I automatically deem it a lie. I fully agree, Campbell has worked diligently, to devalue our jobs and wages. Every time Campbell closed a mill, another one opens in China. During Campbell's time in office, he cost BC mill workers, 30.000 jobs. I don't know, if this was purposely done, or if it was, his stupidity. He put hospital administration into regions. This needed many more buildings, more maintenance workers, more housekeeping staff, more C.E.O's, more assistant administration staff, more general staffers, more aides staff. He put money managers, in hospital departments, where R.N's, should have been in charge. Try to explain, to a money manager, who doesn't know a bed pan, from a kelly instrument. It was a chaotic mess. All that stupidity ended up, costing three times the amount, than it did before. What he is doing to education, is to force private schools. He is closing 12 more schools, so, he is squeezing, more and more kids into the least possible space. However, private school, costs a lot of money. The people, who are well to do, are the only ones, who can afford private schools. Campbell, will force as many kids into the Public schools, until, they spill out of the windows. I think, Campbell has taken too many pages, out of China's book. So, Fadden, put a warning shot across the bow.
Millionaires are corporates, organized crime and government. For years I have said organized crime runs this province and Carole James is not the one to clean it up when we rid ourselves of this B.C. Liberal mob. Guiliano cleaned up New York and the mobs and it remains one of the safest of the United States. Carole James has been too close to this mob and we need an honest LEADER to get us out of this mess Campbell will leave behind. IMO we have corrupt government, corrupt police, corrupt judges, lawyers and justice system, corporations, all the rot that comes with an absolutely corrupt government and ineffective opposition. It is all these corrupt people/organized crime that have pushed the housing market up and the high end car sales off the map. These people don't pay any taxes but their money is great for the 'economy/corporations'. We are #1 in the world for organized crime per capita and with the crime comes all the corrupt lawyers chasing the money. Justice for the rich only. Money is power and we need an honest, strong premier who can clean up the corruption and one who can figure out a way to get us out of the huge debt we are in and get our assets back to help pay our debts. Campbell should get life behind bars. Leave now Carole James, just go away, you have accepted a huge salary and golden pension plan, you are set for life so gooooooo. You have proven you cannot handle the huge job ahead of us.
....and don't let me forget the main stream media/aka ambulance chasers, and Campbell's enablers and bed partners, bought and paid for with our money.
They have screwed up or destroyed everything they have touched in the past nine years. Why would the new bridge be any different?
I wonder what Carole James is thinking, she has had many people say, its time for her to go?
True change will not come from the politicians but rather from a concept and the concept will be based on the acceptance of what is right and what is wrong.
Life is rather simple, but the complexities come about when deceit is required.
"Bridge over troubled waters....
Schedule, budget, poor concrete quality, may be indeed be questionable
but, in my opinion, there seems to be a much bigger issue at play.
The bridge being built was sole-sourced. The government did go out to competitive tender to 3 bidders, but it was for a narrower one way bridge where the contractor would take the risk of actually paying for all construction costs, maintaining it and collecting the tolls. But that's all academic as it is a completely different scope that was purchased by the taxpayer.
Does anyone happen to know what a fair price is for a 10 lane bridge with the added work of ripping down an existing structure with still lots of life left in it. If so could you let me know. The government somehow was able to determine what a reasonable price for this work would be, and it only took them 23 days (4th to the 27th of February
2009) to do it. But, to be fair, they did had help in determining the
reasonable price.... the contractor of course. And we all know that
when contractor's know they are the only one bidding, they never inflate there price......
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