It is unlikely Gerald Martin General Contractor will face any penalties for the late completion of the Cornell Parking Structure, officials say.
It is also highly unlikely, however, it will meet the project's latest completion date of mid-December.
Roger Lujan, director of facility planning at UNM, said while the University reserves the right to impose punitive penalties on contracts that don't meet deadline or that aren't completed to the level expected, he hopes it doesn't come to that in this case.
He said even though the project is now more than four months over its original schedule, he has faith that the finished project will be worth the wait.
"I have high hopes that when the project is finished, it will meet all of our expectations," Lujan said. "While penalties are an option, I think we can resolve any differences with the construction company without it coming to that."
Lujan said workers are concentrating their efforts on the building's aesthetic quality, something several University officials are dismayed with.
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"We're working on trying to determine the exterior finish we want for the building," Lujan said.
He said despite what was reported by the local media earlier, the project has stayed within its original budget of $6,325,000.
Lujan said the project's underground utility construction, which has made for the bulk of the project's delays and has meant much of the area south of the SUB has been excavated, is also on schedule and should be finished soon after the completion of the parking structure.
He said he expects the project to be close enough to completion that it can be turned over to the University's control by the end of the month.
He said, though, that the structure's opening has been delayed to coincide with the beginning of the spring semester.
The new opening date, Lujan said, will allow the University to take full advantage of the building's services.
Many community members the job is taking too long and that Gerald Martin Contracting is getting off too easily.
Nahid Haji, a UNM sophomore, said he is tired of traffic being diverted on Redondo Drive.
"If I were four months late on a school assignment, I would expect to be punished," he said. "Delays and problems aside, there should be accountability on the side of the company in charge of this project."
Sabra Basler, a University transportation information/project facilitator, said a number of changes in the project's plans also caused delays in its completion.
Don Knox, UNM construction manager, said all of the major obstacles surrounding the project have been taken care of and that it is close to completion.
"We're putting the finishing touches on the building and are preparing to install the gates and ticket booths," Knox said. "Although it's been a long road, there is nothing keeping us from finishing the project soon."
