I am a New Jersey contractor, my family has been building roads in this state since 1880, it began with my great, grand father Joseph B. Murphy.
I am interested in knowing which of all you critics are contractors, have seen the contract documents and the schedule mandated by those documents based on the demands of the towns and voters in that area.
The cost of labor is mandated by the Federal Government, not the State.
The “Mob” references illustrate you lack of knowledge and that you watch too much TV.
The Asbury Park Press is a far left liberal rag, that is dedicated to blaming all things on Chris Christie and the Republicans. It would not know the truth if it bit them in the ass.
Cost is relative, inflation drives the cost up every year. At one time Interstate highway cost per mile was $1,000,000 per mile, in the mid 1960’s.
Your observation that is “suburban”, go the in the height of the summer beach season, it is very urban and was so before the rebuilding.
Finally, are you a contractor, do you know how to estimate a job like this, no it is not the “right” unit prices, how to develop costs, do you understand the schedule and maintenance of traffic requirements, do you have engineers, superintendents, foremen and craft labor you have trained on your payroll. Do you have the credit lines to finance the work and do you have the equipment and plant to do the work.
What will you do with the project management when the contract mandates you not interrupt beach traffic and you cannot work?
You think “low bidder” is too expensive, how would you do it? Low Bidder is the cheapest method.
An other question, what would you do when you encounter conditions not shown or addressed in the documents that cost you more than you more money and TIME?
Let me know when you have your name, reputation, assets and butt on the line, what you would do.
And by the way, I don’t kid.
So you approve of all of the state micromanagement and corruption, then. After all, you’re excusing it. Did the APP get the figures wrong? Those are independent from how they may feel about RINO Christie. Was there really an excuse to pay contractors to not work? The feds didn’t mandate that, FWICS.
The state of NJ did not take a dime from the feds when they (re)built the so-called “River Line” from Trenton to Camden. And that was $32 million per mile (or $6,061 per foot) to put light rail on a pre-existing railroad. Thanks to the “proof-of-payment” fare system, the trains only cover seven percent of operating costs with fare revenue. Like I said, this is nothing new for NJ. I once lived in the state, in a city infamous for “pay to play”, so excusing the RINOs makes one look like part of the left-wing system, with all due respect.