We previously noted the troubled Loop 1/US 290 flyover project.
Today’s City of Austin project that’s falling apart at the seams is a 3.2 mile long bike trail in North Austin.
The city got $1.9 million in stimulus grant money back in 2009 for the bike trail, claiming the project was “shovel ready”. So far, according to the Statesman, about 20 feet of trail have been cleared. The architects (Larson, Burns and Smith, who have been paid $764,055.91 to date) and the construction firm (Westar Construction, paid $329,000 to date) have been fired, and oversight of the project has been moved from the Parks and Recreation Department to the Public Works Department.
(Larson, Burns and Smith apparently have nothing to say, at least to the Statesman. Westar basically says that Larson, Burns, and Smith screwed up the plans, and there were issues with the city that prevented them from doing more work on the trail.)
I do agree with one of the Statesman commenters: that is a pretty nice sign.