Building a megaproject after the crisis

摘要

"The poor old contractors get killed over expenditure," complains Ferrovial Construction UK managing director Karl Goose, before pointing out one of the many unwinnable situations that those building megaprojects find themselves in. "The press hammers projects if they go over budget and [also] if they don't buy local, even if that particular local commodity is more expensive," he adds, outlining the conundrum faced by project contractors. "It's a very complex subject matter and I don't think there is a one-size-fits-all answer. Contractors aren't going to solve that problem, the government needs to lead and we will follow." Goose knows a thing or two about delivering a megaproject; his company is working on HS2 enabling works, as well as Tideway and Crossrail. All those schemes have attracted controversy, but it's the two rail schemes that undoubtedly altered the public's perception of the 'megaproject'. Search Google for HS2 and you will soon see why: news stories about cost overruns and drawn-out timelines dominate. But the negativity around the project also has a real-world impact.