The following entries record some of the more noteworthy troubled projects from around the world (read our FAQ for more information).
Jump to prior years 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, Recent classics, Historical classics,
For an analysis of the most common mistakes made in the projects listed below read the “Classic Mistakes” page.
Latest troubled project report
Organization : Bihar State Road Construction Corporation – Bihar state India
Project name : Aguwani-Sultanganj bridge
Outline : Bridge construction – Double collapse
Date : Jun 2023
Cost : USD $208 million
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Disasters 2023
- Site C dam – $16 billion (Canadian)
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Disasters 2022
- Australian stock exchange
… read more - CalMac Ferries – £397M
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- European Soccer Super-League
… read more - F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft development
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- Quibi
… read more - Democratic Party of Iowa Caucus – USA
… read more - Panorama – Canada – $115M
… read more - Network Rail – UK – £2B
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- Boeing Commercial Airplane – USA
… read more - Dyson Ltd – UK – £500M
… read more - Loblaws – Canada
…read more - Customs and Boarder Protection – USA – $23M
… read more - State of Texas – USA – $367M
… read more - Airbus SE – Europe
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- Lidl – Germany – €500m
… read more - British Columbia – First time home buyer loan program
… read more - Build-a-Bear Workshop – USA / Canada
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- Garden Bridge Trust – UK – £53M
… read more - US Department of Defence – USA – $28M
… read more - Scottish Police – UK – $200M
… read more - Fyre festival – Bahamas / USA
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- Department of Public Works and Government Services – Canada – $50M
… read more - City of Montreal – Canada – $11M CAD
… read more - Aid Agencies – $360M USD
… read more - Department for International Development (DfID) – UK – £285 million
… read more - City of Flint Michigan – USA – Unknown
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- Volkswagen – Germany – $18B
… read more - Transportation Security Administration – USA – $160M
… read more - Los Angeles Unified School District – USA – $1.3B
… read more - Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality – South Africa – $130M
… read more - Target Canada – $7B
… read more - Ontario Provincial Government – Canada
… read more - City of Edinburgh Council – UK – £1B
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- Christmas Blunderland – UK
… read more - SNCF / RFF – France – $68M
… read more - IBM – Worldwide
…read more - British Home Office – UK – £224M
… read more - Berlin’s Brandenburg airport – Germany – 5B Euro
…read more - State of Oregon – USA – $254M
… read more - State of Minnesota – USA – $150M estimated
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- Avon Products
… read more - Department of Health and Human Services – USA
… read more - British Broadcasting Corporation – £100M
… read more - J.C. Penny – USA – $1B
… read more - New Zealand – Ministry of Education – $30M
… read more - State of California – $254M
… read more - Marin County – $33M
… read more - Boeing Commercial Aeroplanes – up to $18B
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Disasters 2012
- Northern Rock Asset Management – $400M
… read more - U.S. Air Force – $1B
… read more - Mitt Romney 2012 Presidential Campaign
… read more - Department of Transport – UK – £40M to £100M (estimated)
… read more - Knight Capital – $400M
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- Sanctuary of Mercy Church – Borja, Spain
… read more - G4S Security – £60M
… read more - Victoria Health Authority – $566M
…read more - US Army – $5B
… read more - British Home Office – UK – £105M
… read more - Dept. Homeland Security – USA – $45M
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Disasters 2011
- Victoria Police Department – Australia – $100M
… read more - J.P Morgan Chase – $6B
… read more - Department of Defence – Australia – $40M
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Disasters 2010
- BSkyB/EDS – £200M GBP
… read more - City of New York – USA – $540M cost overrun
… read more - UK Fire Services – £650 GBP
… read more - Queensland Health – Australia – $64.5M
… read more - Dept. Homeland Security – USA – $1B
… read more - Microsoft – USA – Undisclosed
… read more - Department of Primary Industry – Australia – $2.25B AUD
… read more - National Health Service – UK – $24B
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Disasters 2009
- Sydney Water – Australia – $70 AUD
… read more - Canadian Payments Association – Canada – $300M
… read more - Westjet – Canada – Update from 2007 failure story
…read more - London Stock Exchange – UK – $68M
… read more - Veterans Affairs – USA – $41M
…read more - Foundation for student life – Norway – $14M + some very smelly students
… read more - US Navy – USA – $13B
… read more - National Offender Management Services – UK – $375M
… read more - MI5 – MI 6 – UK – Reported to be tens of millions of pounds
… read more - City of Vancouver – Canada – $250M cost overrun
… read more - Air Canada – Canada – $67M cost overrun
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- Department of Homeland Security – USA – $500M
… read more - Edinburgh Fringe Festival (World’s largest arts festival) – Scotland – Ticketing system
… read more - HM Revenue Collection – UK – Child tax credit systems – $5,600M
… read more - Rate Collection Agency – Northern Island – Local tax collection system
… read more - Ministry of Defense – UK – Helicopter upgrade – $1,000M
… read more - Justice Dept – Australia – Court proceedings management system – $54M
… read more - Transport Ticketing Authority – Australia – Smart card system – $350M
… read more - Department of Transport – UK – $160M
…read more - Census Bureau – USA – $3,000M
…read more - British Airways PLC – Move to T5 – $32M
… read more - Waste Management Inc – ERP System – $100M
… read more - Qantas – Australia – $40M
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Disasters 2007
- New South Wales Government – Australia – $370M
…read more - Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA) – UK – $100M
…read more - Lhufthansa Systems – Germany
…read more - Social Insurance Agency – Japan
…read more - Junior Doctors Recruitment System – UK – $12M
…read more - American LaFrance – USA
…read more - General Register Office – UK – $12M
…read more - State of Wisconsin – USA – $23M
… read more - Centrica PLC (British Gas) – UK – $687M
…read more - Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) – USA – $95M
…read more - West Jet – Canada – $34M
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Disasters 2006
- Department of Homeland Security – USA – $20M
…read more - Airbus A380 – $6.5B
…read more - Justice Department – Canada – $1,000M
… read more - University of Wisconsin – $28M
…read more - Defense Department – Australia – Helicopter upgrade – $1,000M
… read more - Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – UK – $610M
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Recent classics – Failed projects from the recent past
- FBI – Virtual Case File – USA – $170M
…read more - Denver Airport Baggage Handling System (2005 was the end of a very long story) – $560M
… read the full case study - British Columbia – Fast Ferry Fiasco – $460M
…read more - The Millennium Experience and the Millennium Dome
…read more - Fox-Meyer Drug
…read more - London Stock Exchange – Taurus – Up to £475M
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Historical failures – Cautionary stories from the past
- Thatcher and the poll tax
…read more - Advanced Passenger Train (APT) – UK – £150M (2012 adjusted cost)
…read more - Sinclair Vehicles (C5) – UK – £30M (2012 adjusted cost)
…read more - Bristol Aeroplane Company – UK – 1949 – £350M (2012 adjusted cost)
…read more - de Havilland Aircraft Company – UK – 1949 – Full cost unknown
…read more - Tacoma Narrows – USA – 1940 – $105 (2012 adjusted cost)
…read more - RMS Tayleur – UK – 1854 – Cost unknown
…read more - Swedish Navy – The Vasa – 1628 – Cost unknown
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R. Goatham – Editor
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