# Presentation: 157375

## Oversight of  Construction Projects

- George Black

## Introduction

- CDOT’s limited oversight of the construction project
- Construction policies
- State
- FHWA
- AASHTO

## CDOT Oversight

- CDOT did *NOT*
- Prequalify the subcontractor
- Require written and approved plan
- Intervene despite problems
- Require active monitoring

## Subcontractor Prequalification

- CDOT did NOT require prequalification of subcontractors
- 70% of work can be done by subcontractors
- Ridge had not performed highway bridge construction for 14 years

## Bracing Plan Requirements

- Ridge believed its tasks were regulated by OSHA
- OSHA requires bracing plans but not approval by a P.E.
- CDOT did not require a P.E. to approve temporary bracing plans

## Bracing Plan

- Prepared by Ridge safety coordinator
- Had no formal engineering training

## Slide 7

## Construction Errors

- Splicing problems
- Wrong tools to
- Remove the shipping bolts
- Tighten the splicing bolts
- Lost several hours

## Girder Splice

## Construction Errors (Cont’d.)

- Hoisting problems
- One section was hoisted backwards
- Time was lost verifying that it was backwards and correcting the error

## Fabricator’s piece mark stamped into the girder

## Girder identification number painted by shipping crew

## Construction Errors (Cont’d.) 

- Bolting errors
- Bore holes were too big and too shallow
- Bolts were too long
- Pounding bent the bolts

- Bolt hole in bridge deck

## Slide 15

## On Site May 11 and 12

- CDOT had
- 2 managers
- 2 inspectors

## Morning of May 12

- CDOT managers left the site *without*
- Checking the bracing scheme
- Checking the weather forecast
- Establishing a means of monitoring the stability of the girder and bracing scheme

## CDOT Oversight Summary

- CDOT did *NOT*
- Prequalify the subcontractor
- Require a written and P.E.-approved plan
- Intervene despite errors
- Ensure there was a monitoring plan

## CDOT Oversight Policy

- Routine practice not to
- Tell contractor how to do work
- Intervene

## CDOT Oversight Policy (Cont’d.)

- CDOT* Specifications *state*:*
- 	“The inspector is not authorized to issue instructions contrary to the contract or to act as foreman for the Contractor”
- CDOT design plans state:
- 	“The Contractor shall be responsible for the stability of the structure during construction”

## CDOT Oversight Policy (Cont’d.)

*CDOT Construction Manual *states:
- 	“Falsework design and construction are the contractor’s responsibility”
- 	“The Contractor is responsible for providing adequate bracing of all formwork, and CDOT personnel cannot dictate construction methods”

## AASHTO Oversight Guidance 

- AASHTO’s *Construction Manual *states*:*
- 	“The [State] Project Engineer shall in no way attempt to supervise work for the Contractor”

## Other States’ Oversight Policy

- 15 States said that allowing a contractor to work without interference is common
- They cited the following reasons:
- Reduce change order costs
- Minimize tort liability

## CDOT’s Postaccident Actions

- Require an erection plan, approved by a P.E., 4 weeks before installation
- Require a pre-installation conference 2 weeks before installation
- Require P.E.-written approval of each phase of installation
- Require daily inspections and written documentation of same by the contractor

## Summary

- No State should relinquish its responsibility to ensure the safety of construction workers and the traveling public by yielding its oversight role

## Slide 27