SAFETY CONCERNS RELATED TO DESIGN BUILD PROJECTS

This project examined specific experiences related to the Pocahontas Parkway Project, located in the Richmond, Virginia area. The Pocahontas Parkway Project was a public-private partnership, as well as a design-build four-lane, 8.8-mile-long roadway. The objective of this task was to identify the best practices to alleviate safety and health concerns, and environmental nuisances related to design-build contracting programs and processes. To meet the task objective, questionnaires were mailed to property owners and tenants affected by the highway construction. From the respondents, five agreed to be interviewed during a site visit. The questionnaire and interview results showed that the majority of the property owners who responded believed the following: The acquisition process worked smoothly; Information about the project was made available through public meetings; Their reports of problems were answered or addressed within a timely fashion; The best responses were received through meeting with the contractor's Safety Director personally; They knew whom to call when a problem arose; Surveyors were not properly identified; and Insecure construction areas were not marked as hazardous. Based on the findings, the following recommendations are made for inclusion into future design-build contracts: Ensure that the contractor's Safety Director is on site when construction begins and is available to property owners and tenants; Ensure that construction and potentially hazardous areas are clearly marked; Ensure that all survey, construction, and related personnel are announced and identifiable; and Ensure that affected property owners have contact information for all pertinent contractor representatives.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This research was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation, University Transportation Centers Program.
• Corporate Authors:

  South Carolina State University, Orangeburg

  James E. Clyburn University Transportation Center
  300 College Street, NE
  Orangeburg, SC  United States  29117
• Authors:
  • Naseri-Neshat, H
• Publication Date: 2003

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 33 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Best practices; Design build; Environmental impacts; Health; Interviewing; Landowners; Public private partnerships; Questionnaires; Recommendations; Safety; Surveys
• Uncontrolled Terms: Contractor representatives; Hazardous areas marking; Personnel identification
• Subject Areas: Construction; Environment; Highways; Research; Safety and Human Factors; I50: Construction and Supervision of Construction;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00960025
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: R-01-UTC-SAFETY-CET-02
• Files: UTC, TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 3 2003 12:00AM