Via AASHTO Journal

The Federal Highway Administration issued a final regulation Dec. 2 that will, effective Jan. 3, allow state transportation agencies to use the "construction manager/general contractor" method for federal-aid highway projects nationwide, an innovation that allows project designers to tap the know-how of actual builders during the design phase.

The final rule, which formalizes the FHWA's procedures for approving and authorizing CM/GC projects, was required by the 2012 MAP-21 surface transportation law "and effectively opens the door for the use of the CM/GC method by state departments of transportation," the FHWA said.

The action follows an earlier notice of proposed rulemaking that prompted public comments, and a test phase in which some state DOTs requested its use for certain cases. Here is the final rule.

The FHWA explained that under this contracting method, a single contractor may provide both pre-construction and construction services. "CM/GC allows construction expertise to be used during the design phase, often leading to innovation, improved quality and reduced time and cost on complex projects," the agency said.

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