Most of a public project's time can be procedure rather than work. Klein and Thompson's I-95 case: the same state and the same union labour rebuilt the collapsed Philadelphia bridge in 12 days, against the 12 to 24 months the normal sequence of consultant design, federal approval, bidding and contract would take, once an emergency declaration let one accountable manager pick contractors without bidding and take risks the rules forbid. It bought speed with discretion made visible (a 24-hour live camera) and gave up protection against no-bid corruption, which is the trade every fast-deciding institution has to price.

Evidence 3 passages

backsAbundance, Ezra Klein, Derek Thompson
we've taken discretion and judgment away from people like Carroll. We prefer that projects go badly by the book. We minimize some risks, but make delay and high costs routine.
groundsAbundance, Ezra Klein, Derek Thompson
I-95 reopened in just 12 days, not the months initially forecasted.
groundsAbundance, Ezra Klein, Derek Thompson
That'd take about 12 to 24 months.

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