BIDDING ALTERNATE DESIGNS FOR BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION

The article notes that the Federal Highway Administration's reqirement that bridge projects with an estimated cost of over $10 million be put out to bid with at least two alternate designs, and that contractors are often allowed to prepare and bid on their own alternate designs. One bridge contractor's experience in bidding alternate designs is described. The bridge projects include the Bangor-Brewer bridge in Maine. It is important for state departments of transportation to closely review alternate designs to ensure that each design is as efficient as possible. It is noted that preparing more efficient designs would eliminate the need for costly contractor-prepared alternatives. Suggestions are made for improving the design and construction of bridges: use of design competitions; constructibility reviews during design stage; and value engineering clauses.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00268445
• Corporate Authors:

  American Institute of Steel Construction

  Wrigley Building, 400 North Michigan Avenue, 8th Floor
  Chicago, IL  United States  60611
• Authors:
  • Desjardins, R J
• Publication Date: 1991-3

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 17-21
• Serial:
  • Modern Steel Construction
  • Volume: 31
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: American Institute of Steel Construction
  • ISSN: 0026-8445

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternatives analysis; Bids; Bridge design; Bridges; Construction; Contractors; Costs; Structural design; Value engineering
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Bridges and other structures; Construction; Design; Finance; Highways; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00605165
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 31 1991 12:00AM