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Under-Construction Tulsa Zoo Exhibit Hit $2M Snag

Matt Trotter

Workers made a costly mistake on a new Tulsa Zoo exhibit that will house rare Asian animals.

A surveying error meant the floors of the 3 acre Lost Kingdom exhibit were initially set low enough that buildings could flood. Though the error was caught in time to be fixed, it caused several other problems, like walkways not meeting requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

According to Tulsa Zoo Management, Inc., the additional costs will likely exceed $2 million. TMZI is heading toward mediation to resolve a dispute over those costs. The management group will look to raise more money to cover any gap remaining after mediation.

The City of Tulsa had its own $3.9 million contract with Atlas Construction for building concrete slabs. That amount will be increased by nearly $158,000, mainly because of delays from the surveying error.

Lost Kingdom will house animals like binturongs, red pandas and Malayan tigers. It's set to open spring 2017.

Matt Trotter joined KWGS as a reporter in 2013. Before coming to Public Radio Tulsa, he was the investigative producer at KJRH. His freelance work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times and on MSNBC and CNN.