Non-Residential Design and Construction in the United States
Designed to accelerate project completion and enhance the safety of roadways
In May of 2010, the FHWA launched its “Every Day Counts” (EDC) program―an effort to “identify and deploy innovation aimed at shortening project delivery, enhancing the safety of our roadways, and protecting the environment.”
A major initiative of this program, and a hot topic across the infrastructure development industry, is the process of Design-Build (D-B) procurement, especially for roadway and bridge projects. The system is primarily designed to accelerate project completion, and in some cases has proven to deliver major projects up to 50% faster than a traditional Design-Bid-Build (DBB) Method.
The general idea is that a company, or group of companies, assembles a team to concurrently perform any investigations and studies necessary (such as geotechnical investigations of site conditions), perform the various types of design needed (such as roadway, lighting and bridge), and simultaneously involve the contractor to proactively address constructability issues as they arise.
State DOTs have been blazing trails in this arena for the past few years, launching D-B efforts, and learning how to best implement the process and evolve the system. Increasingly, federal funding is being specially earmarked to be utilized on D-B efforts rather than traditional Design-Bid-Build.
ABMB has been honored to be part of two of the first Design-Build efforts in Louisiana, both for the LADOTD. The firm is serving as the Lead Designer for a major interchange upgrade at US 90 and LA 85 in Iberia Parish, currently under construction, as well as the widening of a section of I-12 in Livingston Parish.
According to some estimates, a traditional highway construction project can take up to 13 years to deliver. Design-Build’s primary focus is to accelerate delivery of major projects.
To learn more, read the Design-Build Effectiveness Study.
The Features of Design-Build
- Up to 50% reduction in delivery time
- Costs can be reduced considerably by encouraging the Design-Builder to use innovative methodologies and technologies,.
- Design-Builders are selected primarily on quality and experience of past work rather than simply awarding to the lowest bidder, which can sometimes produce troubled results.
- A reduced risk of construction errors and lawsuits for the Owner.