Geotechnical Issues with Large Design-Build Highway Projects

Design–build is gaining popularity as an attractive alternative to the conventional design-bid-build approach, particularly for larger highway projects. Among the several aspects of design–build projects, geotechnical issues play an important role. On the Legacy Parkway project, a new four-lane, 14-mi-long highway located north of the Salt Lake metropolitan area, these issues offer unique challenges as a result of the deep soft-soil profiles and high seismic potential of the area. Approaches, examples, and incidents on the project are given that demonstrate both the pluses and the deficiencies in how geotechnically related concerns on the project were addressed, and suggestions are made for improvements in the design–build process.