Big Dig Director to replace RIDOT Williams

By John McDaid | Saturday, 16 February 2008

Governor Carcieri has been busy the last few days shuffling deck chairs, and our beloved leader from the Rhode Island Department of Transportation, Jerome Williams, will be taking on a new post. And guess who's coming on board to oversee the new Sakonnet River Bridge? The guy who brought you the Big Dig.

Michael P. Lewis, the controversial director of Boston’s embattled Big Dig construction project, is coming to Rhode Island.

Lewis will take over as head of the state’s Department of Transportation next month, assuming the title now held by Jerome Williams who is moving to the Department of Administration, Gov. Carcieri announced today.

Lewis retired from the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority at the end of November, having served with the agency for more than 20 years before becoming embroiled in the controversies that plagued the final stages of the massive $14.8 billion construction project.
— Via ProJo 7to7

If you're looking at the Sakonnet Bridge plans and thinking about the water in the tunnels or the woman who got killed, well, that's old news. We here in the Ocean State have our own proud history of massive transportation project clusterfudges. Like any transplant, Mr. Lewis is just going to have to prove himself.

Meantime, the flacks at RIDOT cranked out a tearful memorial to their departing boss:

Williams and the RIDOT staff opened the second phase of the Northwest Bike Trail/Fred Lippitt Woonasquatucket River Greenway as well as opened the Blackstone River Bikeway.
— Via RIDOT Press Release

Oh, okay, there were some substantial bits as well. Like this interesting résumé item:

On the Warwick Intermodal Train Station project he oversaw the value engineering analysis that resulted in a projected cost savings of $15 - $17 million. Value engineering conducted on the Sakonnet River Bridge also resulted in a project cost savings of $40 million.

“One of my original objectives was to use our limited resources wisely. These value engineering initiatives enable us to do so,” said Williams. “The funds saved on these projects can be utilized in the future on other critical infrastructure projects.”

How come, given his interest in cost savings, Williams didn't ask the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority to do this kind of analysis on their $300M construction plan for the Pell and Mt. Hope?

Hey, maybe we should ask Lewis to push for a "value engineering" study on proposed RITBA expenditures. As RIDOT director, he has a seat on their board and veto power on any specs.

How about it, Mr. Lewis?

Tags: 
Localblogging, 02871, Sakonnet River Bridge

Comments

Yada

Sun, 02/17/2008 - 11:49am

I'm baffled. I guess as you say we'll have to let Mr. Lewis "prove himself" but all I can visualize is this.

Picture a group of high powered people sitting around a conference room table with the Governor. Smart highly paid influential advisors all. They are evaluating candidates for the position of DOT Director. The Governor says, "Hey! How about the guy responsible for the largest transportation construction project in the history of the earth? You know, that big dig thing up in Boston which has incurred criminal arrests, escalating costs, death, leaks, and charges of poor execution and use of substandard materials."

Then, everyone around the table pauses and thinks "What a great idea! Governor, you're a genius!"

WTF?

John McDaid

Sun, 02/17/2008 - 12:11pm

Hi, Yada...
This is the problem with insular, partisan leadership styles (like not even letting your frickin Lieutenant Governor know you're in Iraq). The suck-up toadies around you just tell you you're brilliant. Not only that, but someone no doubt responded, "Oh, yes, Governor. And Lewis just retired to 'spend more time with his family,' so he's available!"

Cheers.
-j

eileen

Mon, 02/18/2008 - 8:13am

Mayor Waluk of Newport is on this Board. Christine Callahan (former Rep. from Midd. & P'mouth) waited slightly more than a yr. & then became their Controller after being forced to resigned from the Newport Art Museum. I'm sure that they could both assist.