The constructability review process in a small state highway agency: a case study

Often, after Departments of Transportation (DOTs) complete the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process and procure all environmental permits on their projects, contractors or design-builders might submit ideas to improve project design. Many of these ideas would improve major aspects of the project (time, cost, quality); but, often, their implementation would change some aspect of project design that would trigger a NEPA re-evaluation or a replication of the environmental-permitting process. DOTs often hesitate or even refuse to consider these ideas, no matter how good, because they fear costly and time-consuming reassessments that would delay the project. To benefit from innovative proposed design changes on their projects, the transportation industry needs a Constructability Review Process (CRP) that will at once meet all constructability requirements and not clash with the NEPA and environmental permitting processes. This paper presents a case study investigating the current CRP implemented by the Connecticut DOT, with special focus on how the agency coordinates its CRP with the NEPA and environmental permitting processes.