The completion date for the $21 million bobsled and luge track the state is building for the 2002 Winter Games is at least a year away, officials of the Utah Sports Authority heard Thursday.
The state's most expensive Olympic project was supposed to be done by the end of this year. But several seasons of bad weather at the construction site near Park City slowed work, pushing that date back until midwinter.Even so, everyone involved with the project had hoped for at least a test-run down the milelong track before spring. Now, though, they acknowledge that there's no way it can be ready before Sept. 1, 1996.
Sports Authority Chairman Randy Dryer said that date should hold barring an "absolutely horrendous winter." He told members of the Sports Authority's executive committee Thursday that the delays will boost the project's cost.
Just how much more money will have to be spent is still the subject of negotiations with the project contractor, Okland Construction Co., Dryer said. Already, there have been $600,000 in added costs unrelated to the delays.
The budget for the bobsled and luge run, paid for by Utah taxpayers, includes $1.5 million in contingency funds. The state is expected to save operating expenses now that the track won't open until the 1996 season.
All of the state's Olympic facilities, including the Utah Winter Sports Park where the bobsled and luge run is under construction, are scheduled to be sold to the privately funded Salt Lake Olympic Organizing Committee in 1999.
The cost to the organizing committee is the $59 million taxpayers have invested in the facilities. The organizing committee is also obligated to come up with $40 million for a foundation to run the facilities after the Games.