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March 26, 2004
$30M for Narrows bridge questioned
OLYMPIA -- State Auditor Brian Sonntag has faulted the Washington State Department of Transportation for reimbursing the original developer of the new Tacoma Narrows Bridge for $30 million in costs that may not have been associated with the project.
His 2003 Statewide Accountability Report, released Wednesday, said WSDOT paid United Infrastructure of Washington for design and financing of the megaproject before determining whether the expenses were proper.
"The department is not managing state resources with appropriate care," Sonntag concluded.
WSDOT officials replied that "extraordinary circumstances "-- namely the Legislature's changing the project from a public-private partnership to a publicly financed project -- necessitated the payments. They also stated that the agency took appropriate accounting measures before paying the firm.
WSDOT relied on an audit conducted by a certified public accounting firm hired by UIW. The agency's own audit is ongoing.
The new bridge is expected to open in 2007 at a total project cost of $849 million.