Glenridge 66-in. Water Main Relocation: Benefits of Early Contractor Inclusion

The Glenridge 66-in. Water Main Relocation consisted of installing 3,229 linear feet of steel water main via open cut and trenchless methods as a utility component of the Purple Line Light Rail Transit System Project. The project was to be completed within a 23-ft-wide median of a major Maryland Department of Transportation four-lane thoroughfare. The project owner and design engineer carried out the decision to involve the contractor between the 70% and 90% milestones of project design progression. The project benefited from the early contractor inclusion in the forms of enhancing pre-construction activities; allowing for the completion of time-of-year restricted tasks prior to constraints; concurrent design progression and material procurement despite delayed supply chain conditions; timely maintenance of traffic plan modifications; and early identification of risk. The advanced collaboration resulted in elevated levels of cost certainty, accelerated resolution of unforeseen issues, and limited variance from the initial critical path schedule.