Risk Analysis of Connecticut Department of Transportation Projects during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Publication: Practice Periodical on Structural Design and Construction
Volume 29, Issue 3
Abstract
Based on construction project data provided by the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT), this investigation provides an overview of transportation project delivery impactors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some 205 CTDOT projects are the basis of this comparison study. Of the total number of projects reviewed, 95 were completed before COVID-19 government health guidelines were issued, and 110 were under construction during COVID-19. The two data sets permitted a comparison of the pandemic’s effect against prepandemic work. The total value of the projects studied was approximately $2.2 billion over the two distinct periods—one before the emergence of the pandemic and the other during the pandemic. The preCOVID era saw $1 billion worth of work completed, while during the pandemic, an additional $1.2 billion worth of work was carried out. The study demonstrates the pandemic’s impact based on 13 factors: schedule, material supply, environmental, weather, extra work, site restrictions, noncompliance/rending notices, surrounding residents, coordination with utilities, design/redesign, quality control, contractor’s quality of work, and no major risks/issues. Material supply and schedule were the two major study factors demonstrating pandemic impact. Because of social distancing guidelines, many construction sites had to reduce their workforce, leading to site-wise labor shortages. The projects of the study were separated into eight different types: safety improvements, traffic signal, roadway, bridge rehabilitation, bridge replacement, highway signage, facility renovation, and train station rehabilitation. Out of these categories, train station rehabilitation projects faced the greatest disruption in their material supply chain compared to the other types of projects.
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Data Availability Statement
Some data, models, or code generated or used during the study are available from the corresponding author by request (the data in tables and figures).
Acknowledgments
The authors acknowledge the assistance of the CTDOT for providing the project data and for providing valuable input to this research.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Practice Periodical on Structural Design and Construction
Volume 29 • Issue 3 • August 2024
Copyright
© 2024 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jun 19, 2023
Accepted: Dec 8, 2023
Published online: Mar 18, 2024
Published in print: Aug 1, 2024
Discussion open until: Aug 18, 2024
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Bridge engineering
- Bridges
- Bridges (by type)
- Business management
- Comparative studies
- Construction engineering
- Construction management
- Engineering fundamentals
- Epidemic and pandemic
- Highway bridges
- Infrastructure
- Methodology (by type)
- Practice and Profession
- Project management
- Public administration
- Public health and safety
- Railroad stations
- Research methods (by type)
- Structural engineering
- Terminal facilities
- Traffic engineering
- Traffic management
- Traffic safety
- Transportation engineering
- Transportation management
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