Builders on the $78 million Police/Court complex tried to found a six-storey elevator shaft on sand a gambit labeled "a potential threat to public safety" by a Government architect.

A computer modeling analysis showed the uneven pressures would have caused the elevator shaft to lean and would have damaged the floors if not corrected, according to 2008 documents seen by The Royal Gazette.

Builders Landmark Lisgar were told to rip out the elevator core – then a storey high – because it was founded on sand and an old water tank filled with cheap slurry.

The lift was put in according to the drawings costing around a month of lost time.

It was just one of a litany of complaints about errors, waste, disorganisation and delay at the Hamilton site throughout last year.

Officials complained that unauthorised design changes supposed to save time often just increased the delay.

Original builders Landmark Lisgar had promised to have the steel structure framing the building in place by the end of April 2008, said one document. Yet nearly a year later, the structure is still not done.

And another memo hit out at the disorganised sequence of construction which was "incoherent or contradictory, performed in a disparate manner and altered continuously, following no logical order or accepted industry norms".

And the rush to 'make out' that the project was working was causing further problems claimed the letter. It said: "LLC is behind schedule and, under pressure to show progress, is using several techniques to recover and support their required 'appearance' of action on the site with negative repercussions to the project."

Another Government memo claimed the company were already admitting by August last year that it would not hit the completion date of August 2010 as it was already planning work for late October 2010.

While construction was lagging the company was already pushing for payment beyond what had been completed according to one letter sent by the consultant architect on the project.

Other problems highlighted include:

¦ Builders trying to cut corners to save money

¦ Builders changing plans without permission

¦ Builders ignoring a warning not to drive too near the Court Street excavation boundary resulting in a truck falling in the hole.

In late 2008, Landmark Lisgar became LLC Bermuda Ltd with Canadians Lisgar going home but local firm Landmark remaining involved.

Yesterday, Landmark boss Lee Matvey would not comment, saying he wasn't allowed. He would not say why.

Lisgar Construction, based in Bolton, Ontario did not return calls. Government said recently the project is expected to be completed on time and on budget.

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