Private Engineering in Public Works

The division of the internal public engineering work load as practiced by state highway departments is considered. It has been estimated that 50% of the 41,000 mile Interstate System has been designed by private engineering firms. In some states it is considered that the highway organizations should supervise and administer adequately the expanding highway program. There is still a difference of opinion among the states about contracting outside services—between 10% for some departments, and 70% for others. Reasons for these differences depend upon the quality of performed designing jobs. The papers considered the reasons for assigning jobs to outside firms.