Edison, NJ – The construction of the new sports building continues to face escalating costs, with the latest change order being presented to the council. Resolution R449-072023 the third change order will authorize an additional expenditure of $134,965.33 to address unforeseen issues discovered during construction.
The resolution states the need for the third change order stems from a variety of factors, including piping conflicts with existing site conditions, the requirement for an additional concrete pad for musco lighting and single-phase electric service, as well as additional steel dunnage for the air handler, roof drain tie-in, and fire connection mandated by code enforcement.
Originally projected to be completed in the summer of 2023, the sports building project has seen its budget balloon from $5 million to over $11 million due to costly overruns and numerous change orders and is not expected to be completed until sometime in 2025.
This third change order comes on the heels of two previous ones: R261-052024 for $187,433.40 and R413-072024 for $96,814.05. Combined with the original construction costs, the project’s total now stands at a staggering $11,206,212.78.
It’s worth noting that this figure doesn’t include the additional $398,000 approved last month for a construction manager or the $90,280 allocated for turf maintenance equipment. These expenses are in addition to the $4.2 million already spent on the turf fields.
The rising costs associated with the sports building project have raised concerns among some residents and council members. The project’s final price tag remains uncertain as further unforeseen issues are sure to arise during construction, potentially necessitating additional change orders.
The council remains committed to completing the sports building, recognizing its importance to the community. However, they also acknowledge the need to carefully manage the project’s finances and ensure transparency in all expenditures.
