#Exploding whale full#

The key takeaway though, is that, in the space of just four years, the cost of this project doubled.

#Exploding whale full#

As is common practice, the original 2018 estimate was officially forgotten when reporting the further escalation of costs in 2022, with ODOT reporting only the additional cost increase of roughly $125 million, not the full cost increase of $250 million from its original estimate. Less than a year ago, in the Fall of 2021, ODOT prepared a “construction phase cost estimate” of $375 million, which represented a 50% increase in costs. This is actually the second big cost bump for the project since its 2018 “Cost to Complete” report. What that means is that ODOT will have to divert money from other construction projects, or as is currently being debated, charge even higher tolls for travel on I-205 (if tolling is approved for the project by federal, state, and regional officials).

When the project went to bid this spring, bids came back at just a shade under $500 million. But-and we know you won’t be surprised-ODOT’s estimate was wrong. Armed with that figure, highway advocates pushed forward, and in getting the Legislature to direct ODOT to take on the project.