To ensure greater accountability, today the City of Seattle announced the scope, schedule and deliverables for the external expert review process of the Elliott Bay Seawall Project.
Seeking a thorough analysis of the project, the City will utilize a panel of peer agency experts, such as public works directors and chief engineers, with broad experience in large-scale public works construction and in-water construction. They will be supported in their examination by an expert consultant hired by the City.
These peer agency experts will be charged with reviewing the seawall project’s budget, contract, design and schedule, and will analyze in detail each of the four phases of the overall project (planning, design, contracting, and construction). They will make recommendations for cost and risk reduction opportunities going forward, and provide lessons learned that can be applied to future large projects.
“The seawall is a vital public safety project that will help protect downtown during an earthquake,” said Mayor Ed Murray. “This panel will conduct a detailed review of the City’s approach to the project, confirm our revised timeline and budget, and work to find new efficiencies. We must move ahead to complete this critical work to upgrade the waterfront, while minimizing cost and disruptions.”
The process of selecting an expert consultant will be completed by early October and the peer agency experts will be selected by the end of October. The final findings are to be delivered to the City by the end of the year.
“A thorough review by experts is necessary to provide the Council and the public with a full explanation of the recent increases to the Seawall project’s budget,” said Council President Tim Burgess. “I appreciate the Mayor’s willingness to move quickly and transparently on this review.”
“A new seawall is critical to the safety and environment of the waterfront,” said Councilmember Tom Rasmussen, Chair of the Transportation Committee. “Establishing an independent expert review panel is a welcome strategy to help improve performance toward completion of the seawall.”
“We need to fully understand where we went wrong, what we’re doing right and how we can improve and complete this complex project without additional costs or delays,” said Councilmember Jean Godden.
The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) announced in August that it will increase the Elliott Bay Seawall’s budget to $371.8 million to address higher than anticipated project expenses. This revision of the project budget will ensure that the seawall project is funded at a level appropriate for completing the work.
The seawall project has documented expenses exceeding budget in several areas, with the largest increases occurring in jet grout waste removal, and groundwater and seawater management. The revised project budget is based on actual costs incurred, the department’s two years of experience with the project, and projected costs of completing currently contracted work. The City estimates the cost of the external review will be approximately $200,000.