DENVER — The Veterans Administration said Tuesday the cost to finish the hospital project in Aurora has risen to $1.73 billion. That cost is based on work done by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

That’s more than two times the original estimate of $800 million.

The project has been plagued with problems since the beginning. The contractor halted work and walked off the job in December due to lack of payment.

The Army Corps came in to take over completion of the hospital after the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals ruled the VA was in material breach of its contract with Kiewit-Turner, the company building the hospital. An interim agreement between the contractor and the VA was negotiated that included bringing in the Army Corps to finish the project.

“The VA couldn’t lead starving troops to a chow hall when it comes to managing a construction project. The VA’s mismanagement of this project is beyond belief and brings into question the competence of their leadership at every level,” said U.S. Representative Mike Coffman (R-Aurora).  “However, as much as I’m angered by the mismanagement of this project, as a combat veteran serving in Congress I still have an obligation to see that this project is completed and that everything that can be done will be done to bring down the cost,” said Coffman.

He introduced legislation to increase the $880 million cap on the hospital. Coffman’s bill also fires the VA from further management of the project and installs the Army Corps to finish the hospital.