The Right Oversight Keeps Your Public Works Project on Track

By Darryl D. Ray, RLA, ASLA,
Vice President HRC Engineers

Roadway expansion, a park upgrade, utility infrastructure enhancements, or the building of a school, community center, or other public space: These are high-stakes projects that require specialized design and project management expertise.

The ability to steward taxpayer dollars, meet expectations, and fulfill long-term community needs necessitates that the right checks and balances are in place from the very start.

A Trusted Partner is Key

Public works projects come with heightened scrutiny, complex stakeholder dynamics, and layers of compliance risk. Mistakes are costly, financially and politically. There’s a lot at stake, and plenty of ways your next development undertaking could take a wrong turn—costing you time, money, and political credibility, including.

Budget overruns and change orders that generate negative media attention.
Delays that disrupt your government entities’ ability to provide needed services.
Misalignment between project design/construction needs and those of the community that cost time and money.
Non-compliance with local, state, or federal regulations that cause delays and budget overruns.
Public dissatisfaction, erosion of trust or reputation damage that don’t reflect well on your entity.

Thankfully there’s a way to avoid these pitfalls. How? By working with a proven collaborator—and applying sound processes from start to finish.

1. Put Oversight Measures in Place From the Start

Early decisions shape success of government projects. Having qualified, experienced professionals—civil engineers, landscape architects, and land surveyors—in your court during planning and throughout construction keeps you on course.

Being proactive is the way to go:

Conduct needed feasibility studies grounded in real-world data.
Assess permitting needs, anticipate red tape—and plan a smart course of action going forward.
Engage the public and gather input to inform design decisions.
Forecast realistic project costs based on scope and site conditions.
Create a phased plan that anticipates risk before construction begins.

Your go-to partner needs to challenge your assumptions and ask essential questions upfront to help ensure a successful project.

2. Build In Design Accountability

Design is about more than aesthetics and technical specifications. It’s about aligning with your agency’s (and your constituents’) goals—and future-proofing your project.

Having controls and safeguards in place helps you succeed:

Validate that design complies with ADA, environmental, and safety codes.
Coordinate across all disciplines (civil engineering, structural design, landscape architecture, MEP engineering, etc.).
Align design with funding available and long-term maintenance budgets.
Simulate use cases and stress-test systems before they’re built.

Peer reviews, internal QA/QC processes, and regular touchpoints with your civil engineering team help you identify issues before they become liabilities.

3. Insist on Full Transparency

The success of your public works project is only as strong as the team behind it. Your civil engineers and landscape architects can make a real difference in how well the process goes (and how well your organization’s perceived).

Teaming with the right civil engineering partner is essential:

Make sure the team you select has clear, proven processes for on-time, in-budget project delivery.
Vet to make sure they’ve demonstrated experience with public projects like yours.
Conduct due diligence to gauge the firm’s levels of proactiveness and accountability.
Check references to make sure they’re saying what you need to know, not just what you want to hear.

Good partners don’t just follow your lead, they bring potential problems/risks to your attention to assure they’re addressed in a timely way.

According to a McKinsey Global Institute report, large infrastructure projects typically take 20% longer to finish than scheduled and run up to 80% over budget—largely due to poor upfront planning and misaligned stakeholders.

McKinsey & Company, “Reinventing Construction: A Route to Higher Productivity.”

4. Make Execution Oversight a Priority

The best-laid plans need monitoring as projects proceed. Construction phase services are your boots on the ground, so make sure your civil engineers/landscape architects know to make you aware of issues before they escalate.

Assuring your public project is as successful as it can be:

Review shop drawings and submittals for conformance.
Provide clarification when questions arise in the field.
Monitor progress and keep stakeholders informed.
Manage change orders to ensure they’re justified and documented.
Track adherence to schedule, budget, and safety protocols.

Your civil engineering firm should be a trusted extension of your team—providing the Construction Administration and Resident Engineering services that protect your project (and your reputation).

5. Give Closeout Your Careful Attention

It’s easy to let your guard down once construction nears completion. But remember, this phase is your last chance to validate everything is built to specifications—and ready to provide long-term value to your constituencies.

Making sure closeout processes are complete and include:

Punch list development and oversight.
As-built drawings and documentation.
O&M manual review.
Final inspections and permit signoffs.
Post-construction evaluations to confirm design intent is achieved.

A strong finish reinforces public trust and sets the tone for long-term community satisfaction.

“Our team appreciates HRC’s above-par professionalism and their team’s responsiveness to our needs. We value this productive partnership.”

Jody Palmer, City Manager of the City of Hiram, Georgia

Essential Checks and Balances Let You Proceed with Confidence

At every phase—from planning through punch list—make sure your project stays on track, aligns with community needs, and stands the test of time. How? By bringing the right development partner on board to protect your agency from avoidable pitfalls, political fallout, and financial waste.

Tap HRC Engineers to help you deliver results that reflect your vision for the public entity that you serve.

Ready to Start?

Let’s talk about how our design team can help you put a smart risk management framework in place from day one.

Whether you’re planning a road improvement project, a new community complex, a school, or park, HRC Engineers can help you a deliver a project you (and your constituents) will be proud of.