LONG RANGE PROGRAM COST ESTIMATING METHODOLOGY FOR SCDOT

The South Carolina Department of Transportation has in the past used a conceptual or "rule of thumb" approach for estimating the cost of highway improvement projects. This report describes a cost estimating model that is based on historical bid line item data for 58 construction projects that were let to contract between January 1996 and April 2001. Widening, interstate, and interchange projects from all 7 state districts were included. The line item data were entered into a 336 page spreadsheet that consisted of approximately 17,000 data entries. The data were analyzed and eventually transformed into parametric equations, cost averages and ranges, and estimating guidelines. Estimating guidelines were developed for nineteen cost categories: clearing and grubbing, remove and dispose asphalt, remove and dispose concrete, remove and dispose bridges, excavation, mucking, asphalt pavement, concrete pavement, painting, control of intersections, bridge construction, storm drainage, curb and gutter, sidewalks, guardrail, underdrain, erosion control, move items, and mobilization and traffic control.

• Corporate Authors:

  Clemson University

  Department of Civil Engineering
  Clemson, SC  United States  29634

  South Carolina Department of Transportation

  Silas N. Pearman Building, 955 Park Street
  Columbia, SC  United States  29202

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Skipper, C O
  • Bell, L C
• Publication Date: 2003-7

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 150 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bids; Cost estimating; Long range planning; Methodology; Spreadsheets
• Identifier Terms: South Carolina Department of Transportation
• Uncontrolled Terms: Highway improvement projects; Line item data
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Economics; Highways; Society; I10: Economics and Administration;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00962904
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-SC-03-03
• Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Sep 24 2003 12:00AM