County considers firing contractor after major delays in San Jose hospital expansion

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- A long-delayed hospital expansion in San Jose has has turned ugly and both sides are pointing the blame at each other.

The rhetoric is getting nasty over a new intensive care unit and patient bed facility at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. The groundbreaking was in 2009 and the project was supposed to be completed in 2013. Odds are high that it won't be ready any time soon.

Santa Clara County leaders say they've reach the breaking point. The new 168-bed facility is so far behind schedule, they're ready to lock out the contractor, Turner Construction.

"We really have no choice," said Jeff Smith, Santa Clara County executive. "We need to get control over this project because it's being delayed unnecessarily."

The county says the facility is 80 percent complete. Turner says it's 90 percent complete. The building was supposed to open Sept. 19.

Over the next 19 days, a great deal of work needs to be completed. Portions of the ceiling are still open. In the area meant for patient beds, the electrical systems to monitor a patient's condition have not been fully installed. The floor needs also needs covering.

The county says the delay is costing taxpayers $36 million per year in lost patient revenue. It's also holding up the expansion of the maternity and burn units. In its war of words with the contractor, Turner has been accused of a slowdown while it put its manpower into completing Levi's Stadium.

Besides Levi's Stadium, Turner also built San Jose City Hall and claims to be the largest builder of hospitals in the country.

"We say it's mismanagement on behalf of the county, that the county has issued hundreds of contradictory change orders, that they have not responded to our thousands of requests for more information," said Larry Kamer, a spokesperson for Turner Construction. "That it's not uncommon for crews to show up here and be sent home because there isn't an established pattern of work."

Turner has been sent a notice of default and has a week to respond. The county says it's prepared to hire a new contractor to finish the work.