Speeding on the Coast Highway

[Obie]

You can find all of the info here :

https://recovery.hawaiicounty.gov/infrastructure

It's not always up to date but it is the county putting it out.

[punikahakaiferret]

Mahalo, Obie!

I'll keep that site bookmarked to refer to it for updates.

[Moderator 2]

Thanks Obie.
Here’s some info from Obie’s link about the meetings with updates, that I assume Sam Son took time to attend on Zoom, and relay the pertinent information to us here on Punaweb:

First Meeting Details:
• Date: Friday, November 15
• Time: 12:00 p.m.
• Location: Via Zoom
https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register...gistration


Residents are encouraged to submit any questions or concerns regarding the project through our designated Google Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQ...wform?vc=0&c=0&w=1&flr=0&pli=1
Submitted questions will be addressed during each monthly meeting.


Subsequent meetings will be held on the third Friday of every month. Register here to participate: https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register...OiUG87-w5k

If you have any questions, please contact Sherise Kanaʻe-Kāne at 808-961-8499 or sherise.kanae-kane@hawaiicounty.gov

[Punatang]

Speak not of thy beard
Nor join in merry banter
Grumpy Punaweb

[HiloJulie]

Thanks for posting all the links.

I did look at read both the HTH article Moderator 2 posted as well as the link Obie posted that is direct to the County website, and notwithstanding all that, and I admit have NOT watched the several update videos that run about an hour plus each and nowhere do I find anything that comes close to being describable as:

"As was reported last month, the most recent snafu -- generally blamed on the surveyors the County hired -- ended up costing taxpayers a bit under a million dollars and slowed the project down by four months.  With that kind of motivation the contractor shouldn't have any trouble finding something else to jack up the price again."

In fact, the only reference I can find that comes close mentions in the November update that "The initial investigation identified potential discrepancies in the ground surface elevations," along with "we are currently working to resolve these discrepancies before moving forward with construction."

Further, the January update states: "Identified issues with existing grades have been resolved." 

I see no mention of close to a million dollar change order, and again, while I am not saying that it may not be real, I am saying I see no verifiable reporting of this delay and change.

The HTH article says this:

• This progress is despite complications discovered by contractor Isemoto Contracting Co.
  
• Public Works Project Manager Alex Kalawe said a preliminary site investigation found a discrepancy between plans drawn up for the project and the reality of the site.
  
• While Kalawe did not go into detail about the nature of the discrepancy, he said he believes it should be resolved within a month, and any impacts on the timeline will be determined depending on that resolution.
  

However, having said that, and if true, how can the contractor be blamed for seeking additional compensation for doing additional work?

I highly doubt Rob's construction enterprises would bid a job based on known and stated assumptions at the time the project is bid and not seeking additional monies when the site conditions are considerably different when the actual work is performed.

And I doubt he would do the work without a change order in hand PRIOR to doing the work.

At any event, it's a monumental project that's for sure!

[leilanidude]

how can the contractor be blamed for seeking additional compensation for doing additional work
----------
I would suspect that if the discrepancy resulted in the contractor actually doing less work, any Hawaii good road contractor would find a way to increase it anyway via a change order.

[Obie]

There is lot that goes on down there that doesn't make the news.

I assume the county did there site survey using lidar data and drones. It was almost impossible to get thru there on foot.
After moving equipment into place the contractor opened up a rough path and discovered that it was so up and down that a lot of fill would be necessary.
the new road would have been below grade without filling thus more cost.

How do I know this ? Our homeowners association is still active and in close contact with the recovery people.

[HiloJulie]

"I would suspect that if the discrepancy resulted in the contractor actually doing less work, any Hawaii good road contractor would find a way to increase it anyway via a change order."

I would suspect that's what you would suspect. But only limited to all Hawaii good road contractors?

"There is lot that goes on down there that doesn't make the news."

"I assume the county did there site survey using lidar data and drones. It was almost impossible to get thru there on foot. After moving equipment into place the contractor opened up a rough path and discovered that it was so up and down that a lot of fill would be necessary. the new road would have been below grade without filling thus more cost."

"How do I know this ? Our homeowners association is still active and in close contact with the recovery people."

I can appreciate that. 

But extra fill is a very easy to compute change order. 

X number of additional loads times X dollars per load, plus delivery, or self-trucked costs. Plus, costs of labor to spread it. And if the contractor is self-trucking the extra fill in, did the contractor need to bring in from his own resources' additional trucks? Hire additional drivers? Further, is there a sufficient amount of the needed fill here on Island with sufficient number of trucks and drivers to deliver it if the fill is being delivered by others? Would the additional fill need to be shipped from other islands? 

Again, all easily computable costs.

So, again I see nothing that warrants this being said:

"As was reported last month, the most recent snafu -- generally blamed on the surveyors the County hired -- ended up costing taxpayers a bit under a million dollars and slowed the project down by four months.  With that kind of motivation the contractor shouldn't have any trouble finding something else to jack up the price again."

ETA: Other than one's opinion of course.

[Moderator 2]

There is lot that goes on down there that doesn't make the news.

A lot everywhere doesn’t make the news.
Especially embarrassing mistakes.
A tried and true method is to hold off reporting something, release small details to get the public to absorb that portion, then a little more, until finally when the totality is revealed it’s not a complete shock.

[TomK]

Speak not of thy beard
Nor join in merry banter
Grumpy Punaweb

Posts of interest
Good questions not answered
It's no fun anymore.