Shedding light in succession just ...

Shedding light in succession just how far behind schedule parts of the CTA's Brown Line renovation throw might be, contractors working for the CTA have asked nearly six additional months to entire rehab work at three stations, CTA officials said Wednesday.

The contractor responsible for station and platform enhancements at the Armitage stop is asking the Chicago Transit Authority for 172 extra days to finish the piece of work pushing the expected completion date for that station to August 2007 instead of February.

The same contractor, FHP Tectonics, also anticipates being 173 days behind schedule in succession the Chicago and Sedgwick stations, according to Susan Plassmeyer, the CTA's executive vice president of construction.

The CTA has said that work upon these three stations would be delayed because the CTA's construction department failed to gain the proper permits. But Wednesday was the first time the CTA specified in what way much extra time the permitting question at issues have potentially added.

Contractor estimates for completion of the Western station work have also been revised to account for nearly four month of anticipated delays, Plassmeyer said. The strange expected completion date for the station is November 2007

CTA staff disclosed the of recent origin estimates at the request of board members, who denoteed strong doubts last month above whether the $530 million delineate could be completed on-time and within stock

CTA Board Chairwoman Carole Brown didn't entire any more reassured after Wednesday's board meeting. "I still don't think I have a filled picture of exactly when and if there are going to be significant delays," she said. "I'm still waiting to diocese where progress on the scheme really is."

CTA President Frank Kruesi, meanwhile, insists that the delays outlined Wednesday will not hold the CTA from completing the entire concoct by 2009.

In related of the present days the Kimball and Rockwell stations, which have been clos temporarily while subordinate to construction, are scheduled to reopen Aug. 18

mjthomas@suntimes.com

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