The project's current cost estimate is unclear. Gibson said neither the VA, the Corps nor Kiewit-Turner knows the figure yet. He said the estimate should be determined in coming months. He did say the VA would seek congressional approval to raise the project's authorization to about $1.1 billion from $800 million now.

Aurora isn't the only VA hospital job with problems. David Wise, head of the Government Accountability Office's physical infrastructure team, said in his testimony before Miller's committee that four VA hospital projects were running late and all had large cost overruns. Aurora led the list with a 144% overrun as of December, followed by Orlando at 143%, Las Vegas at 80% and New Orleans at 66%.

Unhappy with the VA's record, the House last September passed a bill to require a Corps' "special project manager" to oversee VA major hospital projects underway. The bill died in the Senate, but the message was clear.

The Corps has worked with the VA on about $1.6 billion in small projects since 2007, but its last big VA hospital job was in 1956.

The Corps has extensive experience on large Army hospital projects, including six since 2011. Three, totaling about $2.4 billion, are underway. Former Army Chief of Engineers Lt. Gen (ret.) Arthur E. Williams says, "There's no doubt in my mind that [the Corps] can handle the VA major construction program." Williams, now a senior adviser with Dawson & Associates, Washington, D.C., adds,"They have all the skills, engineering and management required for major design and construction projects and programs around the world."