Best Practices in Preconstruction Services for Transportation Projects

Abstract

Preconstruction refers to project planning and services performed before construction takes place. It is a critical phase in the development of civil infrastructure projects. Civil infrastructure projects such as highways, freeways and other transportation related projects rely heavily on the preconstruction phase to improve partnerships, increase inter/intra-firm coordination and collaboration, and ensure a higher probability of successful project outcomes. Preconstruction services vary by project delivery method in terms of cost, timing, and level of benefit received. When a practice reaches a level of great value to the industry, it is often referred to as a ‘best practice’’. This paper discusses the delivery method and industry best practices that are most beneficial for successfully implement preconstruction services Results of a recent study using data gathered from 81 U.S. project owners, referencing projects from 17 states, and totaling over 6 billion U.S. dollars are given. The study identifies and ranks the best practices for performance of preconstruction services within each delivery method. Moreover, the paper presents an analysis of variance identifying the preconstruction services that add the most value to a given project, as well as the best practices to implement in order to effectively deliver a specific preconstruction service. Additionally, a cost analysis of project data is presented to identify average costs for preconstruction services. Guidance from industry leaders is presented to improve team alignment, partnering, firm coordination, and overall project success.