NCC CEO Blames Swedish Transport Admin for Västlänken Project Failures

In an opinion piece for *Dagens industri*, Tomas Carlsson, CEO and President of NCC, asserts that Sweden's largest infrastructure project, Västlänken, faces a significant risk of failure due to insufficient cooperation and inadequate governance from the Swedish Transport Administration (Trafikverket). This criticism comes after Trafikverket's decision to terminate its contract for the Korsvägen stage of the project. Carlsson contends that this action will inevitably lead to substantial delays and increased costs. He argues that the major delays and cost overruns plaguing Västlänken are almost entirely attributable to factors within Trafikverket's purview. Carlsson highlights that the agency possesses complete and continuous oversight of the project's finances, methodologies, and contractor selections. Furthermore, he disputes Trafikverket's justification for terminating the contract, stating it lacked legal grounds. Carlsson posits that genuine responsibility would have entailed collaborative efforts to resolve existing issues, rather than unilateral termination. The contractor consortium, WLC, has refuted Trafikverket's claims, asserting its own responsible conduct. Carlsson acknowledges that large public infrastructure projects frequently encounter cost overruns and delays, often stemming from initial over-optimism, evolving specifications, and unforeseen circumstances. He advocates for a collaborative model wherein clients and contractors engage in partnership from the project's outset. This approach, he believes, fosters greater predictability and ultimately reduces costs and construction timelines. Carlsson emphasizes that the success of complex projects hinges on the collective competence of all stakeholders to effectively manage time, cost, and quality. Applying this perspective to Västlänken, Carlsson concludes that the project's circumstances have drastically changed since its initiation, and the resulting significant challenges are primarily a consequence of Trafikverket's management.