Opinion ID: 185896
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The 14th Street Tunnel Project

Text: 4 This litigation arises out of the extension of WMATA's Green Line subway train under 14th Street in Washington, D.C. Before soliciting bids for the tunnel project, WMATA retained an outside technical expert, GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc. (GZA), to analyze the subsurface conditions in the project area and to study the feasibility of various tunneling methods, tunneling equipment and dewatering systems. 1 GZA submitted its first Tunnel Alternative Report (TAR) in November 1992. The first TAR reported that [g]roundwater for most of the [tunnel] alignment is anticipated to be above the crown [ i.e., the top of the tunnel], and that, in light of this soil condition, even... fairly extensive dewatering was not likely to be entirely [e]ffective. Joint Appendix (JA) 30-31. Accordingly, GZA recommended not only that some type of closed face tunnel boring machine be used for the project, but also that open face tunneling be strictly prohibited on this contract. 2 JA 31. 5 GZA submitted a revised TAR in January 1993. The second TAR reaffirmed the conclusions of the first, noting that dewatering considerations dictate closed face mining methods, JA 32, and that [o]pen faced tunneling in conjunction with dewatering is not judged a viable construction technique on this [c]ontract, JA 33. After reviewing the second TAR, WMATA's Board of Engineers met with GZA. Shortly thereafter, in March 1993, GZA issued a third and final TAR, which authorized the use of an open face machine, but cautioned that [e]xtensive dewatering will be an essential element of the open faced shield option. JA 34. Noting that effective dewatering of the alignment is at best going to be difficult, the third TAR recommended that an extensive pre-support grouting/ground improvement program... be required for most of the alignment. 3 JA 35. 6 Following the issuance of the third TAR, GZA calculated the extent of the dewatering and grouting necessary to allow for open face tunneling. Even extensive pre-support grouting would not permit open face tunneling, GZA warned WMATA, if groundwater is not depressed [through dewatering] the recommended two feet below tunnel invert [ i.e., the bottom of the tunnel]. JA 35. WMATA then directed GZA to design an appropriate dewatering system for the project. GZA produced a dewatering design that included over three hundred dewatering wells. JA 1045-46 7 On December 6, 1993, WMATA issued an Invitation for Bids (IFB) on the 14th Street tunnel project. The IFB set forth detailed design specifications and required bidders to submit lump-sum bids for carrying out the work based upon those specifications. 4 WMATA did not include GZA's TARs in the bid package, however, nor did WMATA conform the design specifications to GZA's recommended dewatering system. In particular, WMATA's design specifications called for only 61 dewatering wells. JA 40. Based upon the specifications provided by WMATA, KiSKA submitted a lump-sum bid of approximately $43 million. WMATA accepted KiSKA's bid and, in early 1994, the two parties signed a construction contract.