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Santa Clara Co. Claims Contractor Favoring Levi's Stadium Project Led To Hospital Delays

SAN JOSE (KPIX 5) – Santa Clara County has had enough of a contractor that's been working on a hospital expansion project for years. It's been constantly delayed and now we're learning Levi's Stadium might have something to do with it.

Workers for Turner Construction continued to build Valley Medical Center's new hospital wing Monday. But by this time next week, they could all be fired.

"We're prepared to just lock them out of the project," said county executive Jeff Smith.

Sources told KPIX 5 the county has been inching toward the so-called "nuclear option" for years. The county hired Turner Construction shortly after voters approved the $300 million hospital renovation in 2008. But delays pushed the project back from a 2013 completion to 2016. Now, it's backed up to 2017.

The county said not being open is costing $36 million a year in lost hospital revenue.

Even more surprising, the delays may be tied to the building of Levi's Stadium.

"The minute that the Levi's stadium project offered an incentive for early completion, Turner who was the general contractor there, pulled many of its subcontractors and our project, we believe got neglected," Smith said.

Larry Kamer, a spokesperson for Turner Construction said, "Poppycock…absolute nonsense."

The spokesperson denied the company favored building the new home of the 49ers.

"Turner builds thousands of projects a year.  It knows how to build two projects at the same time," Kamer said.

Turner said the delays were caused by county mismanagement and change orders that often sent crews home early without working.

"We think this is more of a PR exercise by the county and less about the facts," Kamer said.

A letter from the county facilities manager to Turner last June and obtained by KPIX 5 showed the contractor had trouble passing routine inspections. It calls on Turner to improve quality control.

The county says it's now ready to move on with a new construction company.

"When you talk to Turner, they will portray themselves as victims in this, but the real victims are the patients and the county taxpayers," Smith said.

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