By Ashley Karen
Payments to Bechtel, the Crossrail delivery partner, have passed £500m barrier which is half-a-billion.
Figures and tables in the newest NAO (National Audit Office) report on the project presents that between the start of the contracts in 2009 and 31 March 2021, £531m has been paid to Bechtel by Crossrail Ltd.
The project management specialist’s original contract worth was £400 million.
Transcend (a consultant JV), which is the programme partner of the project and comprise of Nichols Group, Aecom and Jacobs, has also been paid £127m till March in its role.
The newest National Audit Office progress report puts the latest Crossrail final cost estimate at £18.9bn, after the effect of Covid-19 added another £289m to the bill.
The full extent of cost hikes on 19 of the project’s 36 main construction works contracts was also approved as per the table below:
Most of the works on the project is finished but train testing is already fall behind the schedule.
“Crossrail was further from completion than anyone understood when the Department, TfL and Crossrail Ltd reset the programme in 2019. The problems we identified in our previous report have been difficult to address and have continued to affect the programme,” said Gareth Davies, the head of the National Audit Office.
He also asserted: “There are now encouraging signs that Crossrail is in a more stable position. However, it will require further funding to complete, and there are still significant risks that must be managed as the Elizabeth line undergoes operational testing.
“As the Elizabeth line nears the start of services in 2022, TfL and government must think through how to realize the benefits of the railway in order to maximize the return on almost £19 billion of investment.”
To read the report fully, please click here
