It was very effective because they brought in a fresh perspective and asked a lot of tough questions of both parties as we were trying to set up the project and set up the bid documents. I think the industry could benefit from some of the experienced individuals who are available. I think that's a great concept. We have implemented that concept on the Chattahoochee project in Atlanta where the construction manager has an oversight committee. In Puerto Rico, they have a geotechnical oversight panel and both parties, Kiewit and the Puerto Rico Highway Authority, found it to be advantageous.
Cost is always an issue.
The public seems unwilling to spend billions of dollars for transportation projects that it perceives as unnecessary. Well, certainly tunnels are expensive compared to surface structures or shallow buried structures. But costs are very favorable when you factor in social costs and environmental costs. It's the responsibility of the design engineer to develop accurate cost estimates for the various alternatives. But I disagree that the public is unwilling to approve funding for transportation tunnels.