DelDOT Statement In Response To MACTEC

Dover -- In response to a press release issued today by MACTEC Engineering and Consulting, Inc. (MACTEC), a sub-consultant on the Indian River Inlet Bridge Project, responding to a lawsuit filed by the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) last week, DelDOT spokesman Geoff Sundstrom stated:

"We've seen these arguments from MACTEC before and look forward to rebutting them in court. MACTEC's statements do not explain away that it substantially underestimated the amount and the timing of the settlement of the embankments designed for the Indian River Inlet Bridge."

On Friday, January 28, DelDOT brought suit against bridge design firm Figg Bridge Engineers, Inc. (Figg) and its geotechnical sub-consultant MACTEC for geotechnical errors in connection with the Indian River Inlet Bridge replacement project. The facts in DelDOT's complaint are based upon comprehensive studies prepared by the engineering firm of O'Connell & Lawrence, Inc. and the geotechnical consulting firm of Golder Associates, Inc. DelDOT seeks as damages its costs to construct the original earthen embankments and their partial removal, together with other related damages in excess of $19.6 million. Figg has cooperated in DelDOT's investigation of this project.

"DelDOT has worked cooperatively with the Federal Highway Administration on this federally-funded project from the beginning," said Sundstrom. "After a thorough analysis, the FHWA expressly approved removing the failed roadway embankments. And FHWA has financial supported the replacement of the embankment and other costs on this project, including the costs of the investigation that led to this suit."