Construction

Quality Assurance in Materials and Construction

Background

This review is a product of the FHWA 2006, National Review Program (NRP). The NRP provides program evaluation at the corporate level to enhance program effectiveness, ensure more program consistency, and identify successful practices across the Nation. The NRP is an annual program of reviews conducted by teams comprising experienced FHWA personnel. Review topics are selected through an annual call followed by a solicitation for Team members from FHWA unit offices. Quality Assurance (QA) was selected for review in 2006 because the program ranked as one of the top five areas of interest for review by FHWA.

The role of the QA program is to ensure that the quality of the materials and construction incorporated on all Federal-aid highway projects on the National Highway System (NHS) are in conformity with the requirements of approved plans and specifications. The programs developed by the State DOTs, must adhere to 23 CFR 637, Construction Inspection and Approval (contained in Appendix A), and be approved by FHWA. These programs lay out systematic actions necessary to provide confidence that the material and workmanship incorporated into a project will satisfy given requirements.

Changes to this regulation occurred in 1980, 1987, 1995, and 2002. Prior to 1980, the regulation primarily addressed sampling and testing of material used in construction. This regulation also had a strong focus on quality and acceptability of material and FHWA oversight requirements. The 1987 change to the regulation clarified that States must perform all acceptance testing; further clarification was provided through two memorandums and a technical advisory (T 5080.11) issued by FHWA. In 1995, the regulations were rewritten to allow for the use of contractor test results in the acceptance decision and establish a systematic approach to quality assurance. In 2002, the regulation was updated to address design-build projects.

While the regulation changed FHWA's approach to the QA program there were several other factors that affect the status of the program today:

• Starting with the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) there have been sweeping changes to FHWA's role in the administration of Federal-aid projects. These changes have altered stewardship and oversight of the QA program.
• The FHWA underwent an organizational restructuring that eliminated the Regional Offices and created the Resource Center while also shifting responsibilities in Headquarters. This restructuring and shifting of responsibilities has altered the support structure for the QA program.
• State DOTs and FHWA have lost staff and expertise needed for the QA program. These losses have created a void in the execution and oversight of the QA program.