When it comes to highway and road construction contractors, there is much to be considered. While you may not be looking for a contractor for a major highway in your community, this is one of the qualifications you might want to investigate. Even if your project is as ‘simple’ as paving a parking lot for a large commercial development, the best recommendations would probably come in the form of government contracts they’ve successfully completed. The government, after all, is going to be the entity inspecting a finished project, so their recommendation is based on how that contractor scored when all work was completed. After that, there are a few other things you should look for when seeking a road construction contractor.
Caliber and Experience of Civil Engineers
When you are looking for a road construction contractor, one thing you should always do is verify the expertise and experience of the highway design civil engineers working for that contractor. Have they designed similar projects to what you are looking for? What kinds of projects have they designed and have there been any complaints of major flaws? This is imperative because any roadwork begins with the design.
Project Completed on Time and within Budget
As for the contractor, do they have a history of completing projects on time and have they stayed within budget? This is extremely important because any delays can result in huge financial losses. Take the time to check with other jobs they have undertaken so that you can verify if they are able to stay on task throughout. While there will always be that one project that was delayed due to no fault of theirs, you are looking for a pattern. No one can fault a contractor when the supply chain was broken, much as it had been during covid, but if they are typically on time and within the projected budget, you can trust that they will do the same for you.
Ability to Work with Other Contractors
Highway and road construction contractors will often work side by side with other contractors. While it may be the last job on a major construction site such as the parking lot mentioned above, there will be other contractors likely to be on the site as well. What kind of name has the contractor you are interested developed within the industry? Do they get along well with other contractors, or do they have a reputation for being difficult to work alongside? This is another huge consideration, especially if there will be other contractors and subcontractors on the job.
Always take the time to check on the ‘little things’ you would assume a road construction contractor would have experience with. Look for their experience with grading and drainage, especially if the project is in areas where high amounts of rain fall in short periods of time. Compare all the bids you’ve received, check each contractor’s credentials and experience, and don’t forget to see how much insurance they carry. This could lead to major losses if their coverage is insufficient. These are just the basic things to look for but it should give you an idea of what you need to know when making your final choice.
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