Weather in Construction Contracts

The means by which weather is addressed in public works construction contracts were examined through a survey. The agencies included in the study consisted of all state departments of transportation, several district offices of the United States Corps of Engineers, and various supervisor's offices of the United States Forest Service. The focus of the study was to determine how weather conditions, particularly conditions that could adversely impact construction schedules, are addressed in typical agency contracts. Results show that the practices of the Corps of Engineers and the Forest Service offices are relatively consistent within their own respective agencies, however, major differences are noted between these agencies. Less consistency was observed between the practices of the various state departments of transportation.