Case Study Highway Construction

Question: Writeabout the Case Studyfor Highway Construction. Answer: Introduction The project in this case study involved construction of a four lane highway that would connect two major metropolitan areas in the region. The highway covered a distance of 20 km and the project entailed construction of the highway itself and all its associated furniture, including traffic domes, lane markers, steel covers, light poles, bus shelters, signposts, crash barriers, signs, guide posts, etc. The project was sponsored by the government and it was very important for persons both in the private and public sectors. The total cost of the project was about $40 million. One of the key features and/or challenges of this project is that a section of it was being constructed through a national park. This elicited a lot of reactions from different stakeholders and the general public as a whole. Therefore the project team had to involve all stakeholders, including conservancies, social activists and the general public, to ensure that all potential benefits and impacts were properly bal anced. My responsibility in this project was an estimation/quantity engineer. My key role was to determine and manage all costs related to the project. This involved determining initial estimates and involving and consulting all relevant stakeholders so as to come up with the final figures. My other responsibilities included: carrying out feasibility studies so as to estimate material and labor costs and the timeline of the project; completing quantity take-offs; sending enquiries so as to obtain and analyze prices; collecting quotes from suppliers and sub-contractors; preparing and evaluating material lists, tender documents, and invitation to tender; analyzing and negotiating tender and contract costs; reviewing drawings and specifications of the project; analyzing safety and health implications of the project; calculating profits; creating and submitting work quotations; assigning future work to relevant contractors; coordinating work efforts of different stakeholders; resolving disputes arising from contracting parties; providing advice on several contractual and legal issues; valuing finished works by contractors and making arrangements for their payments; assessing risk levels of the project; monitoring all project stages to ensure that budgets are within forecast limits; maintaining relevant documentation and records needed for invoices/ claims and all other commercial activities as per contract conditions; and preparing comprehensive progress reports. While performing these tasks, sometimes I worked from the office and on site. My main focus was also to minimize costs, maximize value for every dollar that was spent on the project and ensure that client needs were fully achieved. I also had to ensure that all services and materials used on the project achieved the necessary standards and statutory construction regulations. My level of responsibility in this project as per the hierarchy of construction jobs was middle level. At this level, I was involved in the project from start to finish because my contribution was highly valuable. The key stakeholders in this project included: the client/developer/owner, designers, architects, engineers (civil engineer and structural engineer), consultants, construction/project manager, main contractor, design for safety coordinator, sub-contractors, and suppliers. This project took about four-and-a-half years to be completed. Its timeline is as shown below Task Name Start Date End Date Duration (Months) Agency/stakeholder and public involvement June 2, 2010 September 2, 2010 3 Planning September 3, 2010 January 3, 2011 4 Designing January 4, 2011 July 4, 2011 6 Relocating service works July 5, 2011 August 5, 2011 1 Construction of the road August 6, 2011 December 6, 2013 28 Installing road furniture December 7, 2013 November 7, 2014 11 Commissioning November 8, 2014 December 8, 2014 1 My Approach Click here to enter text. In this section you should describe the key issues or challenges on the project. You may write about one or more key issues but remember you only have a limited word count for the case study. Explain the issues to make it clear to the assessors why it became a challenge for you. Explain the options you considered and the solutions that you identified. Explain why some of the options were not feasible. My Achievements Click here to enter text. In this section you should describe what you achieved, how you achieved this and what your involvement was. Demonstrate your ability to think logically, laterally and professionally giving examples of where you gave reasoned advice to a client. Conclusion Click here to enter text. In this section you need to reflect and critically analyze your performance. Make reference to the lessons you have learnt and what you would do differently next time.