An inspection revealed serious defects in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool’s blue liner. The contractor’s report highlights 85 points of failure due to errors during renovation, rather than vandalism. The renovation aimed to complete before the 250th anniversary celebrations, leading to hasty work.
Renovation Missteps
The blue coating failed in at least 85 areas due to premature refilling and improper materials. The Aug. 6 inspection report shows damage worse than initially reported. The administration wanted the project ready for America’s 250th anniversary. Atlantic Coating Inspection’s analysis found blisters, peeling, and cracks.
Blisters resulted from trapped moisture or fumes, appearing in 40 places. Peeling, found in nearly two dozen spots, happened from insufficient drying. The Rhino coatings used required 72 hours to cure, but were rushed.
Contractor’s Role
Atlantic Industrial Coatings (AIC) handled the $14.7 million renovation. It received a no-bid contract, justified as only a few firms could do the work. AIC’s report called most issues cosmetic but noted systemic problems. Photos showed blisters and peeling coating. AIC cited human oversight and incorrect primer use.
A separate Interior Department statement assured that AIC would fix the pool. Some damaged sections allegedly stem from vandalism.
Background of Pool Issues
The pool, plagued by algae and leaks since the 1920s, underwent a $34 million renovation in 2012. In April, repairs began to address what was called “filthy” water with a blue hue. Materials specified were Rhino 406 primer and Rhino Pipeliner 5000 coating.
By June, the pool was filled, turning green with algae blooms and blue flakes surfacing. Trump and others cited vandalism as the cause.
Investigation and Legal Outcomes
A National Park Service report identified 13 damaged areas, possibly from vandalism. Prosecutors charged four people, including David Hearn, after initial claims of vandalism. Charges were dropped as contractor errors were determined to be the cause.
The U.S. Attorney’s office and Army Corps declined to comment. The most notable damage was peeling along expansion joints. AIC was informed how to apply coatings by manufacturer guidelines.
Lessons Learned
Issues highlighted in the report included missteps in application and curing time. The Aug. 14 report detailed plans to not reapply Pipeliner 5000 over joints and use flexible materials. It also recommended a smaller crew for focused supervision.
As the pool’s repairs neared completion, Trump assured improvements would make it vandal-proof. AIC’s adjustments aimed for perfection as the phase ended.
Leave a Reply