Use of Precast Piers and Integral Abutments in Design-Build Contracts

In recent years many highway agencies have experimented with the use of innovative contracting techniques in their quest to deliver better transportation projects for their users. The highway industry has traditionally depended on low bid contracting in building infrastructure projects, however, in recent history this practice has started to be questioned. Cost and quality of the project and the time it takes to build these projects has come under closer scrutiny and as a result many have concluded that we may be better served by shifting more of the development of a project from the design side to the side of the builder. The New Jersey Department of Transportation has experimented with this process, having advertised a score of projects to date utilizing design-build contracting. New Jersey utilizes a modified design-build process where the design-build team bids on designs which are 30% to 40% complete.