HOW NEW FALCONS PLAYER SURVIVED LIFE OF ADVERSITY

Total cost now projected at $1.5 billion, GWCCA says.

The Falcons made another $9.1 million worth of changes to the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium last month, according to a report prepared by a state agency.

According to the latest project status report by the Georgia World Congress Center Authority, the Falcons organization had “issued change orders” to general contractor Holder Hunt Russell Moody “in the cumulative amount of $208.6 million for various scope changes” through June.

That’s up from the previously reported $199.5 million in change orders through May.

Some of the changes have been covered by contingency funds in the $1.4 billion budget approved in December 2014 and others by budget increases.

The latest GWCCA status report said the total project cost is now projected to be $1.5 billion.

The changes don’t affect the amount of taxpayer money committed to the project. Under terms of the Mercedes-Benz Stadium financing deal, the Falcons are responsible for construction cost overruns.

The GWCCA report doesn’t provide specifics on the June change orders.

Of the $101 million in change orders issued in May, $87.6 million was attributed to costs associated with accelerating work to achieve the June 1, 2017 completion target, according to records previously obtained from the GWCCA. Most of that involved steel work, the Falcons have said.

The latest status report updates construction progress.

Among other things, it notes the erection of support steel for the exterior walls has been completed, the installation of video ribbon boards on the fascia of the seating bowls has begun, the rail system is being installed around the seating bowl, and the installation of escalators and elevators continues.

The overall schedule “continues to be paced by the fabrication” of steel for the roof, the report states.

Bill Darden, the Falcons’ stadium project executive, told the GWCCA board this week that 55 of the 99 main steel trusses for the fixed portion of the roof have been erected.

“Most of that has gone up in the last 60 to 75 days,” Darden said. “We’re really in the home stretch of that. I think you’re going to really be blown away in the next 60 to 90 days to see the progress.”

The retractable portion of the roof — one of Mercedes-Benz Stadium’s signature features — is scheduled to be installed beginning in January.

The Falcons have said repeatedly that they expect the stadium to be completed by next June, three months later than originally targeted.

“We feel really good about June, really good about where we are,” Falcons President and CEO Rich McKay said this week.

GWCCA executive director Frank Poe concurred.

“All indications are June 1 is an achievable date,” Poe said. “It’s what everyone is focused in on.”

Plans are being made to demolish the Georgia Dome next year.