Construction Program Management and Inspection Guide
Construction Program Management and Inspection Guide
Construction Program Management and Inspection Guide
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Foreword<br />
Over the last 15 years, the role <strong>and</strong> experience base of the Federal Highway Administration’s<br />
(FHWA’s) engineering staff have changed considerably. Today, our field engineers are typically<br />
involved in a diverse array of issues that were not common in the Federal-aid program of decades past.<br />
A decline in staffing resources <strong>and</strong> experience, coupled with increased dem<strong>and</strong> on our current field<br />
engineering staff, requires a more focused <strong>and</strong> systematic approach to fulfill our construction<br />
stewardship responsibilities.<br />
Past Federal highway legislation provided many State transportation agencies <strong>and</strong> FHWA divisions<br />
with a great deal of flexibility in delivering the program, including certification mechanisms for many<br />
types of construction projects. This increased State flexibility but reduced FHWA project oversight.<br />
Reorganization of FHWA, the elimination of the region offices, <strong>and</strong> a thrust towards other sensitive<br />
issues within the Federal-aid program have also contributed to a less visible construction stewardship<br />
presence by our field <strong>and</strong> Washington Headquarters offices. In spite of the many changes that have<br />
occurred, FHWA’s role in ensuring the integrity of the Federal-aid construction program remains a<br />
critical responsibility in our continuing accountability to Congress <strong>and</strong> the public.<br />
Between 1997 <strong>and</strong> 2000, total expenditures by all levels of government increased by over 25<br />
percent for highway infrastructure. In 2000, highway expenditures totaled more than $127 billion,<br />
with over 70 percent going to reconstruction <strong>and</strong> preservation of existing roads <strong>and</strong> construction of<br />
new facilities. To continue meeting our construction stewardship responsibilities <strong>and</strong> to ensure safe,<br />
efficient, high-quality, Federal-aid construction, division office engineering staff must continually strive<br />
to find effective ways of conducting business. While this effort presents a tremendous challenge, we<br />
can meet it.<br />
In December of 2001, FHWA leadership created the <strong>Construction</strong> Quality Improvement Team<br />
(CQIT) to address this challenge. This publication, <strong>Construction</strong> <strong>Program</strong> <strong>Management</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Inspection</strong><br />
<strong>Guide</strong>, is a significant product of the CQIT. It was developed to provide our field engineering staff a<br />
technical resource to consult in delivering an effective level of oversight <strong>and</strong> stewardship of the<br />
Federal-aid construction program. This document is not about business as usual, but rather about<br />
focusing on program practices <strong>and</strong> techniques that add value <strong>and</strong> help to ensure effective oversight <strong>and</strong><br />
acceptable accountability. It provides specifics for implementing a wide variety of strategies that, with<br />
our State partners’ involvement, will deliver quality construction products to our ultimate customers,<br />
that is, the traveling public.<br />
I strongly urge each of you to become familiar with this document, visit the referenced Web sites,<br />
<strong>and</strong> review the other references identified as you undertake your renewed stewardship responsibilities.<br />
I believe this document is an excellent tool for adding value, enhancing technical expertise, ensuring<br />
the highest level of construction quality, <strong>and</strong> maintaining accountability.<br />
King W. Gee<br />
Associate Administrator<br />
Office of Infrastructure<br />
Contents<br />
CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM MANAGEMENT AND INSPECTION GUIDE (5/01/04)<br />
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