STRATEGIES USED BY STATE DOT'S TO ACCELERATE HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS. IN: COMPENDIUM: PAPERS ON ADVANCED SURFACE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS, 2002

Every day motorists are faced with driving through construction work zones throughout the state of Texas. Some construction projects due to their location and type of traffic control increase congestion and delays. There is a need to speed up construction on all types of projects using accelerated construction strategies. To determine the extent of accelerated construction strategies usage in the United States, the author conducted a literature review and a state department of transportation (DOT) survey. The results of the survey indicate that most states that responded are using accelerated construction strategies in some form or fashion, especially on large projects that impact the highway travel lanes. Based on the research, the following techniques were determined to be applicable to address the problem of accelerating construction time: calendar day definition for working day; incentive using contract administrative cost; milestones with incentive/disincentive (I/D); substantial completion I/D; lane rental disincentive; A+B provision; variable lead time; and design-build. Each of the techniques was classified by level of acceleration; however, the most widely used and most liked by DOTs and contractors as well, are the I/D techniques. They are win-win situations for both parties and they result in shorter construction times and monetary gain to contractors. Several techniques were applied to example projects in the Atlanta District in order to test the guidelines developed from this report. The results indicate that, depending on the type of project, size and location, there is always going to be an available technique that can be utilized to accelerate it. Guidelines for various levels of acceleration were developed from this report and the results of these guidelines appear to be applicable to all projects depending on the level of acceleration desired and warranted by a particular project.

• Record URL:
  http://swutc.tamu.edu/publications/technicalreports/compendiums/Compendium2002.pdf
• 
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This study was supported by a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, University Transportation Centers Program.
• Corporate Authors:

  Texas Transportation Institute

  Texas A&M University System, 1600 E Lamar Boulevard
  Arlington, TX  United States  76011

  Southwest Region University Transportation Center

  Texas A&M University
  3135 TAMU
  College Station, TX  United States  77843-3135
• Authors:
  • Ibarra, C
• Publication Date: 2002-8

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 83-125
• Monograph Title: COMPENDIUM: PAPERS ON ADVANCED SURFACE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS, 2002

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Disincentives; Guidelines; Incentives; Literature reviews; Road construction; State departments of transportation; Strategic planning; Surveys; Traffic control
• Uncontrolled Terms: Accelerated construction strategies
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00962076
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: SWUTC/02/473700-00003-4
• Contract Numbers: DTRS99-G0006
• Files: UTC, TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 14 2003 12:00AM