THE chairman and chief executive of Crossrail are being questioned in public at City Hall this-morning (Wed) about the costs the �16 billion project faces

By Mike Brooke

THE chairman and chief executive of Crossrail are being questioned in public at City Hall this-morning (Wed) about the costs the �16 billion project faces.

Construction of London's 'super tube' east-west rail link began in May to add 10 per cent to London's rail network capacity, making it a key plank of the Mayor's Transport Strategy. It is also expected to create thousands of jobs and provide a massive boost to the economy.

But the future of one of the largest infrastructure projects ever undertaken in Britain faces financial uncertainty and pressures on public spending.

The London Assembly's transport committee wants to know the key milestones for the project and assess how any risks to finance are being anticipated and managed.

The Committee will question Crossrail's chief executive Rob Holden, followed by chairman Terry Morgan, then City of London Transportation & Projects director Joe Weiss, as part of its ongoing scrutiny throughout the eight-year construction phase.

The committee meeting begins at 10am in the Chamber at City Hall in The Queen's Walk, near Tower Bridge, which can also be viewed on the London Assembly's webcast.