Best Practice

BEST PRACTICE:

G4−1: Delay Damage Specification for Failure to Remove Lane Closures

DESCRIPTION:

The contractor provides to the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), prior to establishing a lane closure, a contingency plan in the event of an equipment breakdown or materials failure that delays opening the lane or lanes within the time limits specified. A specified dollar amount based on delay damages is set for each 10 minutes past the time specified to reopen a closure. This damage is charged to the contractor if all lanes are not available for use by public traffic at the specified time. This practice has been in operation since the middle of 1995.

REASON(S) FOR ADOPTING:

Concerns for delay to the traveling public on all major commuter routes.

PRIMARY BENEFIT(S):

Encourage compliance by Contractor to pick up lane closures at required times to eliminated or reduced delay to the traveling public. Also, the requirement of the contractor to submit a plan for the work that has contingencies for equipment and material failures, which was not required prior to this specification.

MOST APPLICABLE LOCATION(S)/PROJECT(S):

All mainline segment and connector closures with delay damages exceeding $6,000 per hour.

STATE(S) WHERE USED:

California

SOURCE/CONTACT(S):

Laurie Jurgens, , Traffic Operations Caltrans
Phone: (209) 736−1609
E−mail: laurie_jurgens@dot.ca.gov