The floodwall on Cincinnati's central riverfront will cost $520,000 more than the $14.4 million the city and Hamilton County expected.

Money in the floodwall's contingency fund - money already set aside for unanticipated costs - will cover it. But because that would leave no money for other unanticipated costs for that aspect of the $280 million Fort Washington Way project, the county and city are being asked to pitch in.

To avoid a problem meeting the August deadline for the opening of Paul Brown Stadium, Fort Washington Way project engineer John Deatrick Monday asked Hamilton County commissioners for $260,000 for the contingency fund. The money would be given back if it's not used. Commissioners sounded receptive to the idea and will vote next week.

"To stay on track, you've got to do this," Hamilton County Commissioner John Dowlin said.

The city of Cincinnati agreed to put another $260,000 into the fund from its capital budget.

Without money already allocated to the contingency fund, Fort Washington Way project managers would have to go to Cincinnati City Council and - or Hamilton County commissioners to get more money approved if a problem arose.

"We'd end up with almost a month delay," Mr. Deatrick said. The cost of the floodwall went up because the construction became more complicated.

The floodwall is being built on the south side of Fort Washington Way's concrete retaining wall. The floodwall will be the north wall for the two-tiered Second Street.

This is the second time more money was needed for unanticipated costs. A sewer project to reducethe number of overflows into the river from 65 times a year to four cost $1.6 million more than expected. The money came from the Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) budget.

Copyright 1999 The Cincinnati Enquirer