Hitachi Zosen
Bertha Blame Game, Mismanagement Damages More Than Just Tunnel Project
Big infrastructure projects require unity, not enmity.
In August, when New York celebrated the opening of the Tappan Zee replacement bridge over the Hudson River, Governor Andrew Cuomo crowed about completing the $4 billion structure on time and on budget. That achievement was notable, he said, at a time when a litigious society and NIMBY concerns have made politicians allergic to risk,…
The Spin Zone: Bertha Maker Hitachi Zosen Bites Back
The embattled maker of Seattle's much-maligned tunnel machine opens up as litigators prepare for battle.
Last April, as Seattles tunnel-boring machine, Bertha, closed in on completing its long-delayed task, Hitachi Zosen, the Japanese maker of the machine, was surprised to learn its executives werent invited to the ceremony celebrating the moment when Bertha would break through the wall at the end of its arduous 2-mile journey. When the Washington State…