An article in USA Today (December 12, 2012) about highway projects in New York has the sub-head, “Design errors, planning lapses drove up costs more than 14%.” Among the things listed that “drove up costs” are

• More asphalt than projected due to a math error
• More temporary concrete dividers than planned, as plans called for only half what was needed
• Unanticipated excavation costs.

It’s true that no one likes for costs to exceed estimates, Read More