Construction Oversight

8/7/2019 Construction Oversight

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/construction-oversight 1/17

Excellence in Stewardship

Field Engineers Conference

New Orleans, Louisiana

August 9-10, 2004

Construction Oversight:Construction Oversight:

They Build What We Accept They Build What We Accept

Jim Sorenson

Office of Asset Management



StewardshipStewardship

Program Administration

Technology DeploymentTechnical Assistance

Strategic Initiatives

Project Development

Project DeliveryMaintenance/Operation

Oversight



Oversight and QualityOversight and Quality

Quality Construction is fundamental tomeeting the FHWA¶s national objectives.

Improves system performance

Reduces congestion and impacts on theenvironment

Improves safety by minimizing work zonefrequency, duration, and disruption of traffic

flow Improves the economic efficiency of our

highway investments



Who wrote this report« Who wrote this report«

³ «the effectiveness of the control and inspection procedures

right on the site where the actual project was being carried

out was the spot where we found falsification. But they were

doing exceptionally well on design for instance and in other

areas in the various phases of acquisition, design work,contract award, all these were conducted on a high level. But

at the spot where construction was carried out they were not

complying with specification as to design and quality of

material. At that point it broke down and some fraudulent

reports were written by incompetent young men, underpaid,untrained and inexperienced««It is things such as this that

we find over and over again. No matter how well the

operation is planned and designed and spelled out in detail,

at a given point we find there is a breakdown and at that point

the whole operation or project breaks down.´



³«How widespread is it?....The disturbing thisis we cannot prove that it isn¶t widespread.

In the face of this we must maintain theconfidence of Congress in this Program.«The thing for you to look at is what is theattitude, what is the degree and level of confidence of Congress in you men, both

on the Federal level and the State level«´



And 40 years later« And 40 years later«

The Honorable John A. Blatnik, chairman of theHouse Special Subcommittee on the Federal-aidHighway Program speaking on ³Highways and theCongress´, at the 41st Annual AASHO Conference,June 1963.



Evolution of FHWA OversightEvolution of FHWA Oversight

The Early Years

Federal/State Partnership concept evolved

BPR oversight included

Periodic field checks

Technical input into design and construction

problems.




1960¶s - The Interstate Era

Federal-aid Highway Act signed 1957

Rapidly expanding program, and increased federal/state

workforce Serious concerns with financial management, corruption,

and lack of project oversight

House special investigative committee established in 1959.

BPR changed its oversight role

Increased project level actions.

Began delegation some oversight responsibilities to theStates




1970¶s ± Today - Increased State Flexibility

USDOT and FHWA formed, 1967

Continued delegation of oversight responsibility to

States Certification Acceptance initiated, 1973

Process/Program reviews

Legislative changes - ISTEA, TEA-21 offeredStates more independence.

Recent concerns with lack of oversight Some problems associated with major projects

GAO and IG reports indicating lack of FHWAoversight.




Past Past Present Present




?

Fut ure...Fut ure...



The Dilemma for Today·s The Dilemma for Today·s

Field EngineersField Engineers Dwindling FTE

Loss of expertise by attrition

Increasingly politicized highway program

Increasing congestion and highwayconstruction delays

Increasing public frustration at congestion andconstruction delays

More complex program

While our abilities and authority have beenstretched -We are still responsible



Moving ForwardMoving Forward

Project to Program

Reviews based on risk assessments

Joint FHWA/State reviews Building our Technical Expertise

Training

Easily accessible tools

Proactive Stewardship



Mary PetersMary Peters -- July 29, 2004 July 29, 2004

Things are certainly different today, but thatdoesn't have to be bad. I think it is up to us

to reestablish in a new role. We certainlyhave a valuable role to play and much tocontribute, it will just be in a different waythan in the past. Likely more program than

project related, and to be the guardian of anational transportation system, which isuniquely our role.



This Takes You : This Takes You :

FHWA Eyes and EarsFHWA Eyes and Ears

Professional

Value Added Improved Work Methods

Sharing Technology

Pro Active Partners

Truly a Transportation Leader



Available Resources Available Resources

Training

Conducting Reviews that Gets Results

Just-in-time training for Teams to use for conducting effectiveprocess reviews

Construction Program Management Training

Guidance

Construction Program Management and Inspection Guide

Construction Program Guide Website

National Highway Specifications Website

Headquarters initiated process reviews Q A Reviews underway

Potential for expansion to other types of reviews.



Questions?Questions?

Contacts

Ken Jacoby

Office of Asset Management

202-366-6503

Jeff LewisCA Division

916-498-5035

Documents

Construction Oversight