Amidst Allegations, Bronx Courthouse Opens

After two years of delays, a state-of-the-art Bronx courthouse will open next month. But one city official says he wants an investigation into why it took so long and why some problems remain. WNYC's Elaine Rivera reports.

REPORTER: It will be named the Bronx County Hall of Justice, the new state courthouse in the borough. But during the past two years it's been plagued by numerous problems. Bronx Councilman Oliver Koppell says he wants more answers including why the $400 million project had a $75 million cost overrun.

KOPPELL: The answers we have is that it's over budget, behind schedule and that the garage has to be rebuilt. But that doesn't explain what happened here and who is to blame.

REPORTER: Claudia Hutton, a spokeswoman for the State Dormitory Authority which oversees construction, contends delay were not a result of mismanagement. A lawsuit, bad weather and a post-9/11 redesign for security reasons were major factors. The courthouse's garage, which is not in the same building, will not open at the same time. One of the floors appears to be buckling. For WNYC, I'm Elaine Rivera.