If you can't find it with Google it doesn't exist. That includes all those old books on technical subjects that don't apply any more because they're only available on paper and an electronic computer is not required to accomplish the task. /curmudgeon

There's nothing inherently wrong with consultants and other contractors, especially for work not done very often. But my experience has been that they need to be managed like entry- or at best journey-level staff even if you're paying them management-level costs & fees. Much like most contractors ... they don't do well with "general direction." Unfortunately, most management types and political bodies feel that there isn't a need for staffing able to do that, which could perhaps do some of the work itself, leading to the usual audit findings after some project fails, goes way over budget, or both.

BTW, stuff like that has happened in CA too, just not perhaps to such an obvious extent. The 101 bypass of Redwood NP comes to mind (in similar blugu). Then of course there's much of NWP in the Eel Canyon, but that was done a long time ago before consultants. Think of it as full employment for maintenance crews.