[Lorianne]

This is by design. Big projects like this are huge moneymakers for those who are politically connected.

Planned boondoggles.

[Opinionated Blowhard]

underline the urgency of a divisive issue for Wisconsin's Republican leaders: finding a long-term but palatable solution for paying for the state's highway and bridge projects.

So the urgent issue isn't finding ways to cut costs and repair highways more efficiently and within budget. No, the issue is finding more ways to pay for the overruns, no matter what the cost. To a statist, all roads lead (pun intended) to more spending.

[Iron Munro]

Must be union projects.

Remember the Big Dig 3.5 mile highway/tunnel project in Boston?

Originally estimated to cost $2.8 billion and be complete in 1998 it dragged out until Dec. 2007.

And the Boston Globe estimated that the project will ultimately cost $22 billion (including interest).

When finally paid for the Big Dig will cost almost three times the cost of building the Panama Canal, in current dollars!

And as soon as it was completed the tunnel started falling apart due to faulty workmanship.

If labor unions had been involved in building the first trans-continental railroad it would still be stalled at the Council Bluffs western city limits.

[detsaoT]

Here’s a simple solution - we as a nation approve of ZERO new construction projects unless and until such projects are planned out with an actual trust fund that will pay for future maintenance of said road/bridge/tunnel through the rest of its expected life, and said trust fund is ABSOLUTELY protected against being raided for stupid-a** items like retirement plans and f**king pensions. Infrastructure should NEVER be an employment program, the only reason we’re in as abysmal shape as we are now is because we keep confusing the stupid two. Enough of that. Time for the freaking grownups to step up and make ADULT DECISIONS.

[Carl Vehse]

Austin TX is faced with similar extensive delays, rising costs, and continuing traffic snarls on its huge Mopac project, adding toll lanes to the existing taxpayer-paid lanes. "Blame bombs" are being tossed back and forth between the usual suspects.

Also the toll company for part of the SH 130 toll road (advertised to car drivers as a way to avoid the continuous multi-lane train of 18-wheelers on I-35) went bankrupt. Now SH 130 is being advertised to truckdrivers.

Lately there's talk of turning highways leading to the Austin airport into toll roads (just like Orlando).

I'm waiting for the next ripoff... intersection toll stoplights.

[bigbob]

WI tends to over-build, especially the closer you get to Madison.

[Eaker]

You bid the job, now do the job for your price.