Resolution of Disputes to Avoid Construction Claims

Book excerpt: This synthesis report will be of interest to transportation agency administrators, including contract administrators; construction, design, claims, and scheduling engineers; project staff and managers; attorneys; and construction contractors. This synthesis describes the state of the practice with respect to procedures used throughout the United States to resolve disputes to avoid construction claims. Fair and timely resolution of contract disputes may help lessen highway construction project administrative costs, benefitting the public, the agency, and the contractor. This report of the Transportation Research Board examines the underlying reasons for contract disputes and identifies methods for dispute avoidance and resolution. It complements the information in NCHRP Synthesis of Highway Practice 105: Construction Contract Claims: Causes and Methods of Settlement, which focused on the causes of disputes. This synthesis further emphasizes finding ways to settle disputes at their inception, before they become formal claims or lawsuits.