A recently completed review of the 3.5-year, $149 million 16th Street Improvement Project in Denver focused on the unexpected discovery of a centuries-old brick storm sewer. The finding halted work in the downtown construction project, resulting in a 301-day delay and additional $18 million in costs — which the Denver City Council did not approve.
The council, in fact, did not learn of the additional costs until after they’d already been paid, according to the report.
The City of Denver Auditor’s Office released its examination of the project Thursday, along with a series of recommendations. The office routinely examines the functions and fiscal performances of other city departments, a role it has played for the last two decades…