A Spanish engineering firm rebuffed by the commonwealth over its ambitious proposal to build a Metrorail tunnel under Tysons Corner has fired back at the state, part of what now appears to be a nagging squabble as deadlines for the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project draw near.
Madrid-based Dragados has repeatedly sought to win a contract with the commonwealth to build the Tysons tunnel and earlier this year offered to build the 3.4-mile stretch of underground Metrorail for $823 million.
State officials, who consider the tunnel idea dead, have grown visibly weary and frustrated with the protracted fight. In response to Dragados’ proposal, Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation Director Matthew Tucker late last month questioned how much risk the firm would take on.
In Dragados’ response, the firm argued it would accept the risks associated with the proposal and would comply with Metro standards. The firm denied the assertion it would need to post a bond for the entire cost of the proposal beforehand.
The exchange, while highly technical, represents the level of disagreement between tunnel supporters and the state over whether the project can be brought back at the 11th hour. Contract negotiations to build the first phase of the track, including the aerial rail through Tysons, are set to finish no later than April 5.
