Legal challenges add up costs for Light Rail project

Three lawsuits--only one of which is still pending--have added more than a million dollars to the Central Corridor light rail construction project. Taxpayers are on the line for the extra costs but the Metropolitan Council says it doesn't anticipate any cost overruns.

Author:: BMTN Staff
Updated:: Mar 8, 2018
Original:: Mar 25, 2012

Three lawsuits--only one of which is still pending--have added more than a million dollars to the Central Corridor light rail construction project. Taxpayers are on the line for the extra costs but the Metropolitan Council says it doesn't anticipate any cost overruns.

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A Central Corridor light rail construction worker lost his hand and foot after heavy machinery rolled over on him Tuesday. The worker for contractor Ames Construction was working on an overpass near I-35W when the mobile lift he was in toppled over.

Property owners along the Central Corridor light rail line expected business disruptions during the construction, but now some say the work is physically damaging their buildings. But the Metropolitan Council and its contractor say cracks in foundations and facades of the old buildings are not necessarily the result of construction work.

The Gateway Corridor Commission says there isn't enough space on the Interstate 94 bridge overlooking the St. Croix River for a light rail transit crossing.

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