Critical Aspects Of A Civil Works Project

Civil works projects, such as the construction of public infrastructure, have a massive impact on local communities and the country as a whole. For this reason, civil works projects require precise planning and meticulous execution. The excerpt below discusses several aspects of a successful civil works project. 

Project Surveys

Project surveys have two objectives; to assess the project's viability and examine the impact of the project. In regard to viability, project engineers will conduct site inspections to determine hindrances to construction work. For example, when building a bridge, they will need to establish a suitable way to divert water. When constructing a road, the engineers would be concerned about the slope and types of soils. 

When evaluating the impact of a project, experts will interview local communities to establish whether the project services their needs. For instance, how does the project impact their livelihoods? They will also conduct an environmental impact analysis to examine how the project will affect flora and fauna. For instance, if a road will pass through a national park, engineers could opt to use silent machines and minimise dust to protect natural habitats. 

Finding A Suitable Contractor

Contractors go through various assessments to determine whether they have the skills, equipment and resources required to complete the project. Typically, the process begins with prequalifying contractors for the project. During the prequalification process, contractors are asked to submit evidence of their previous projects, financial statements, managerial expertise and construction equipment. It helps filter contractors who do not have the resources to conduct the project. After this, prequalified contractors place bids for the project.

Contrary to popular belief, the contract is not awarded to the contractor with the lowest bid. Instead, the assessment panel evaluates the contractor's work quality against their bid. The contractor that offers high-quality services at a reasonable price wins the contract. 

Project Management

The construction team creates a timetable indicating the activities to be conducted at each phase of the project. The schedule serves as a reference point when assessing the progress of the project. Quality assessments are a critical aspect of any civil works project. As such, an experienced engineer will visit the site to examine the contractor's work. If it is below the required threshold, the engineer will issue an enforcement notice requiring the contractor to make improvements. 

Contractors undertaking civil works projects must observe safety at the site. Typically, all their personnel should have personal protective clothing. Additionally, plant equipment at the site should be in excellent condition. As a rule of thumb, the contractor must have adequate insurance coverage. 


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