U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
202-366-4000
Federal Highway Administration Research and Technology
Coordinating, Developing, and Delivering Highway Transportation Innovations
| REPORT |
| This report is an archived publication and may contain dated technical, contact, and link information |
 |
| Publication Number: FHWA-HRT-15-008 Date: July 2016 |
Publication Number: FHWA-HRT-15-008 Date: July 2016 |
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The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is interested in identifying challenges and best practices related to construction quality assurance (QA) for local public agency (LPA) projects, making recommendations to improve the effectiveness of both State transportation department oversight and LPA management of construction QA and ensure that construction QA complies with Federal-aid requirements. In response to prior Federal and State reviews that have found significant weaknesses or inconsistencies in construction QA practices for LPA projects, this report documents current construction QA practices from both State transportation department and LPA perspectives, identifies specific issues or areas of weakness in QA practices, identifies existing successful QA practices, and makes recommendations that can be implemented to generally improve construction QA across the full spectrum of LPA projects and State transportation department programs. One proven method to improve the consistency and effectiveness of construction QA is to develop a robust LPA certification process. Other key recommendations include the development of LPA-tailored specifications and standards, construction QA-specific training, and use of a risk-based or tiered system of construction QA based on the LPA project purpose and scope.
Jorge E. Pagán-Ortiz
Director, Office of Infrastructure
Research and Development
Notice
This document is disseminated under the sponsorship of the U.S. department of Transportation in the interest of information exchange. The U.S. Government assumes no liability for the use of the information contained in this document. This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation.
The U.S. Government does not endorse products or manufacturers. Trademarks or manufacturers’ names appear in this report only because they are considered essential to the objective of the document.
Quality Assurance Statement
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) provides high- quality information to serve Government, industry, and the public in a manner that promotes public understanding. Standards and policies are used to ensure and maximize the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of its information. FHWA periodically reviews quality issues and adjusts its programs and processes to ensure continuous quality improvement.
Technical Report Documentation Page
| 1. Report No.
FHWA-HRT-15-008 |
2. Government Accession No. | 3 Recipient's Catalog No. | ||
| 4. Title and Subtitle
Analysis of Construction Quality Assurance Procedures on Federally Funded Local Public Agency Projects |
5. Report Date July 2016 |
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| 6. Performing Organization Code | ||||
| 7. Author(s)
Linda Karen Konrath, Leslie Ann McCarthy, Sidney Sco |
8. Performing Organization Report No. None |
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9. Performing Organization Name and Address Hill International, Inc. |
10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS) |
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| 11. Contract or Grant No. DTFH61-12-C-00028 |
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| 12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address
Federal Highway Administration |
13. Type of Report and Period Covered
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14. Sponsoring Agency Code HAAM-20 |
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| 15. Supplementary Notes The Contracting Officer’s Technical Representative was Richard B. Duval, PE (HRDI-20) (202)-493-3365. |
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| 16. Abstract
Approximately 20 percent of the Federal-aid highway program is invested in local public agency (LPA) infrastructure projects, which is a significant portion of total Federal funds allocated to highway construction projects in the United States. In response to previous Federal and State reviews that have found significant weaknesses or inconsistencies in construction quality assurance (QA) practices for LPA projects, this report documents current construction QA practices from both State transportation department and LPA perspectives, identifies specific issues or areas of weakness in QA practices, identifies existing successful QA practices, and makes recommendations that can be implemented to generally improve construction QA across the full spectrum of LPA projects and State transportation department programs. Recognizing that there are significant differences in LPA capabilities and project types, the recommendations consider both large and small LPAs, and differences among State transportation department programs. The recommendations applicable to all project types and programs include better communication among project partners through stakeholder meetings, QA training, and statewide LPA guidelines and manuals focusing on construction QA. For larger LPAs with more capabilities, LPA-tailored specifications and standards, LPA certification, and the use a risk-based or tiered system of construction QA based on project purpose and type are recommended. For smaller LPAs with fewer resources, continued State transportation department oversight and independent assurance and the use of qualified consultants for construction QA are recommended. |
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| 17. Key Words
Quality assurance, Construction, Local public agency, Certification, Risk |
18. Distribution Statement
No restrictions. This document is available to the public through the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA 22161. |
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19. Security Classification Unclassified. |
20. Security Classification Unclassified. |
21. No. of Pages 213 |
22. Price NA |
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| Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72) | Reproduction of completed page authorized |
SI* (Modern Metric) Conversion Factors
| AASHTO | American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials | |
| ACEC | American Council of Engineering Companies | |
| ADA | Americans with Disabilities Act | |
| APWA | American Public Works Association | |
| ARRA | American Reinvestment and Recovery Act | |
| CA | Certified Agency | |
| Caltrans | California Department of Transportation | |
| CDOT | Colorado Department of Transportation | |
| CEI | Construction Engineering and Inspection | |
| CFR | Code of Federal Regulations | |
| EDC | Every Day Counts | |
| EEO | Equal Employment Opportunity | |
| FDOT | Florida Department of Transportation | |
| FHWA | Federal Highway Administration | |
| GDOT | Georgia Department of Transportation | |
| HMA | Hot Mix Asphalt | |
| IA | Independent Assurance | |
| IDT | Idaho Department of Transportation | |
| LAP | Locally Administered Project (Program) | |
| LPA | Local Public Agency | |
| LTAP | Local Technical Assistance Program | |
| MaineDOT | Maine Department of Transportation | |
| MC | Management Consultant | |
| MDOT | Mississippi Department of Transportation | |
| Mn/DOT | Minnesota Department of Transportation | |
| NACE | National Association of Corrosion Engineers | |
| NCDOT | North Carolina Department of Transportation | |
| NCHRP | National Cooperative Highway Research Program | |
| NHDOT | New Hampshire Department of Transportation | |
| NHS | National Highway System | |
| ODOT | Ohio Department of Transportation | |
| OE | Open Ended | |
| OIG | Office of Inspector General | |
| Oregon | DOT Oregon Department of Transportation | |
| PMIT | Project Management Improvement Team | |
| QA | Quality Assurance | |
| QAP | Quality Assurance Program | |
| QAR | Quality Assurance Review | |
| QC | Quality Control | |
| QPL | Qualified Products List | |
| ROW | Right-of-Way | |
| SAFETEA-LU | Safe, Accountable Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users | |
| SHS | State Highway System | |
| S&O | Stewardship and Oversight | |
| VDOT | Virginia Department of Transportation | |
| WisDOT | Wisconsin Department of Transportation | |
| WSDOT | Washington State Department of Transportation |
