The U.S. General Services Administration announced Wednesday that they’ve contracted with construction company JE Dunn to act as the general contractor to repair damages to the Thomas F. Eagleton Courthouse.
The damage occurred August 24 when a pipe on the 17th floor burst, sending about 8,000 gallons of water down the south side of the building and damaging several courtrooms. The leak went undiscovered for seven hours.
GSA Regional Administrator Jason Klumb says Congress has already approved the money to fix the damage.
“Almost immediately we had to do an assessment, a broad assessment of cost to address the demolition and repair and send that up for congressional approval,” Klumb said. “So, we requested and Congress approved a $10 million figure.”
Klumb says the damage has caused tremendous hardship on the courts and the public.
“I think at the district court level they have lost about half their courtrooms and every day that justice is delayed, justice in denied,” Klumb said during this morning’s news conference. “So, we appreciate the courts flexibility in working around all of this major construction.”
A contractor fired at the courthouse 10 years ago is being blamed for installing the misaligned pipe that burst.
Klumb says lawyers are looking into liability and restitution regarding the faulty installation.