Capitol center aims for fall of '08

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The long-overdue Capitol Visitor Center project is expected to be completed by fall 2008, says Sen. Wayne Allard, Colorado Republican.

Mr. Allard acknowledged the three-year delay has been frustrating and inconvenient for Capitol Hill workers, neighbors and visitors, but he said some of the setbacks were unavoidable and that he is pleased with the recent progress.

He said that, as chairman of the Senate Appropriations legislative branch subcommittee from February 2005 to January 2007, he worked to speed up the process and ensure cost-effectiveness. He held 15 monthly hearings and is now the subcommittee's ranking member.

"I'm convinced we wouldn't be where we are today without the hearings," Mr. Allard said.

The budget for the project has more than doubled since 2001 — from $265 million to $553 million, with a request for an additional $20 million, said project spokesman Thomas Fontana. On Monday, he toured the sprawling three-level,580,000-square-foot center being built below the East Plaza of the Capitol.

He said most of the cost overruns and schedule delays were the result of major security upgrades requested after the September 11 terrorist attacks.

The majority of walls and flooring are in place, and a lot of the remaining work involves security, Mr. Fontana also said.

"It's good to see we are where we are," said Mr. Allard after his first tour in six months. "I would encourage the people involved to keep on schedule."

Stephen Ayers, the acting architect of the Capitol, testified Tuesday before the House Appropriations legislative branch subcommittee there have been setbacks in the past month, including the loss of a week in fire-alarm pretesting, but work crews are making progress. He said that 97 percent of the work is complete on the wall stone and 70 percent of the work on the floor stone is complete.

Mr. Ayers said delays were also created by the city fire marshal's plan to test the center's fire and life-safety systems and that his team is looking for a way to speed up the process.