Making a Good Project Better

Many factors contribute to ensuring success in multi-million-dollar, complex, transportation projects. Here are some recurring strategies that can make a good project better.

Creative contracting—such as design-build, cost-plus-time, and best-value—ensures the best price, the quickest schedule, and innovative construction enhancements within the agreed-upon price.
Financial incentives—such as bonuses for each day under schedule—reward contractors for delivering projects earlier than expected, while financial disincentives—such as rental fees for extra hours of lane closures to complete overdue construction—penalize contractors for failing to meet schedules.
Innovative construction techniques improve the quality of construction and the schedule for completion. These techniques include rapid replacement in which new bridges are built next to old bridges and then moved into place, and design sequencing where construction begins after 30 percent of the design is completed.
Strategic traffic management during construction such as full road closures speed-up project completion.
Better projects use intelligent transportation systems for traffic management, wildlife detection, and data collection.
Projects that are delivered on time often pay dogged attention to schedules from design through ribbon cutting, including use of regular progress meetings and a critical path method to monitor action.
Many projects use innovative financing such as using bond authority, special use taxes, and federal funds (e.g., GARVEE).
Intergovernmental cooperation maximizes resources and ensures effective cooperation.
Constant communication with stakeholders solicits good ideas and gains support for transportation projects, particularly during difficult construction periods.