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Old Posted Feb 19, 2008, 1:12 PM
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P.A. clears the way for 2 Ground Zero towers
Builder expects to have them done by 2011


Tuesday, February 19, 2008
BY RON MARSICO


The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has completed preparation work and belatedly turned over property on the eastern portion of Ground Zero for construction of two new skyscrapers, officials said yesterday.

Steve Sigmund, the bistate agency's chief spokesman, said Silverstein Properties Inc. will be paid $14 million in penalties for the missed deadline and can now start building the pair of nearly 80-story office towers.

"You're talking about six weeks (late) on two major office (towers), which is not unusual," said Sigmund. "Of course, we would have liked to have completed it on time."

The impact is offset somewhat because the agency would have had to pay a $10 million bonus to its contractor had the work been completed on time. That means the Port Authority will pay $4 million more than expected.

Silverstein is building three skyscrapers on the former World Trade Center site; a tract for the other building is expected to be ready for construction by July 1. The Port Authority is responsible for building Ground Zero's signature structure -- the 1,776-foot Freedom Tower now under construction.

Work also is ongoing to build a new PATH hub and a 9/11 memorial at the site.

Port Authority officials have said the rock on the site proved more difficult to remove than originally anticipated, contributing to the delays. Overall, the agency said nearly 400,000 tons of soil, rock and concrete was hauled away to make way for the two skyscrapers. Additionally, the remnants of the old Hudson & Manhattan rail line and station had to be removed.

"Over 13 months, the Port Authority excavated and constructed an entirely new 80-foot-deep foundation in concert with the continuing daily operations of the World Trade Center PATH Station moving 80,000 commuters a day," the agency said in a statement.

Silverstein Properties has said it anticipates completion of these two skyscrapers by the end of 2011.
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Last edited by NYguy; Feb 19, 2008 at 1:39 PM.