Capitol Visitor Center Opening Delayed

AP ^ | Jul 03 11:17 PM US/Eastern

[Small-L]

The projected opening date of the Capitol Visitor Center has been pushed back again, from September to summer 2007, because of continued construction problems.

The $584 million project is already more than two years behind schedule and $200 million over budget, but architect Alan Hantman told a Senate subcommittee last week that problems with the fire protection system, gift shops and utility tunnel will cause more delays.

The new tentative time frame of July 2007 appears to be reasonable, said officials with the Government Accountability Office.

The wall stone installation is well behind schedule, the fire alarm system has been redesigned several times, and the gift shop is over budget, according to the GAO, which monitors the project's progress.

The 580,000-square foot underground center on the Capitol's east side is the largest addition in the building's history, increasing its size by two-thirds.

It will include an exhibition area twice as big as the rotunda where visitors can see artifacts, documents and the catafalque that supported the caskets of people who have lain in state. There will be galleries where visitors can see live feeds of congressional business and use monitors to scan voting records, and a 600-seat cafeteria.

[Small-L]

Government efficiency at work. In today's world of austerity, do we need to spend over a half billion dollars for an underground visitors center for the US Capital? There aren't many skyscrapers in our major cities that cost $584million and end up 2+ years behind schedule in construction--only when government gets involved--the new World Trade Center is a good example.

[stephenjohnbanker]

Sounds like the Great Boston Dig. I can dig it!

[Darth Republican]

The $584 million project is already more than two years behind schedule and $200 million over budget, but architect Alan Hantman told a Senate subcommittee last week that problems with the fire protection system, gift shops and utility tunnel will cause more delays.

We ought to redeploy our heavy earth-moving equipment and bring our construction workers home now!

[sitetest]

Dear Small-L,

My understanding of the visitor center is that it's not really about tourism, but rather about security.

Before September 11, access to the Capitol was pretty easy. I used to have contracts up there, and I'd just park down at Union Station, walk up, and in. The campus is really set up for folks to be able to just walk up and enter through any of the various public (and private) entrances.

After September 11, things changed. However, increasing security was not facilitated by the current structures. The visitor center will bring to an end the free access to the Capitol once enjoyed by we the people.


sitetest