When ADOT builds a freeway, there is an essential step that surprisingly requires absolutely no construction or even heavy lifting.

We’re talking about partnering – the ADOT and construction industry process that allows everyone on the project to get together, set goals and talk about the work ahead.

Partnering not only sets a good course, but as a project progresses, the process leads the way through any conflict and helps the team evaluate and measure progress.

But wait … doesn’t this all sound a little familiar?

Maybe that’s because partnering isn’t a new topic for this blog. To get a general overview of how ADOT utilizes partnering, check out our blog post from May. We also wrote about public partnerships that month.

Today we want to focus specifically on how construction project partnerships get off the ground and how they can set the tone for the many working relationships a big freeway project requires.

ADOT builds projects in partnership with private industry, namely construction contractors, suppliers, engineers and associated industries. In fact, 80 cents of every dollar ADOT spends goes to the private sector. That creates jobs and benefits Arizona's economy.

Partnering workshops
Partnering is so essential to delivering projects that it starts before a project even begins…

Near the start of a construction project, a partnering workshop is scheduled and everyone involved with the project gets an invite. That can include city officials, representatives from various utility companies, designers, contractors and, of course, ADOT.

The workshops generally start off with introductions and a discussion of each individual's responsibility followed by a lesson on partnering and an overview of the project by engineers and contractors.

From there, they work together to develop a team charter (kind of like a mission statement) and establish project goals.

Like any relationship, though, each partnership is unique and workshops need to be designed accordingly. Some partners may want more time for team-building activities and to cover the core partnering components, while others may want less time spent on introductions and partnering basics and more time on issue identification.

Issue resolution
Issues are bound to come up throughout the duration of any project. They can range in size and scope, but the bottom line is they need to be resolved quickly and painlessly so as not to slow down the project.

Partnering sets in place a plan that can help resolve issues using communication techniques and shared working agreements.

The issue resolution process is established during the initial workshop and includes methods for identifying and resolving issues, action planning, and setting follow-up agreements.

The process also includes the provision for an Issue Escalation Ladder, or chain of command for both ADOT and the contractor to escalate issues that can’t be resolved in the field. The Issue Escalation Ladder is established during the initial workshop and basically determines what constitutes a disagreement and at what point the team members will “agree to disagree” and seek formal issue resolution.

Successful issue resolutions not only meet their primary objective (to resolve potentially disruptive issues) but they also provide teams the opportunity to discuss current project issues, make changes to improve project delivery and assess where they stand in relation to the original project goals and charter.

Closeout Workshop
Partnering doesn’t end when the construction wraps up…

At the conclusion of a project, team members are invited to attend a Closeout Workshop. These aren’t always formally facilitated, but they give the project team an opportunity to celebrate the completion of the project while assessing what worked well (and, possibly, not so well) during the course of the partnering.

There’s actually one more step in the process called the Partnering Evaluation Program, but we’ll save more on that for a future blog post!

Why it matters
Partnering not only helps create a more cooperative working environment, it also results in projects that are more consistently delivered on time and within budget! Ultimately, that benefits you - the people who pay for and use transportation.

Visit the Office of Partnering website for even more information.

All the innovation and care that went into the US 60 Gonzales Pass project has really paid off.

Not only did the 10-mile stretch west of Superior transform from two lanes into a safer, more modern four-lane highway, but the project has just been awarded the President’s Award in Valley Forward’s 31st annual Environmental Excellence Awards program.

In addition to the President’s Award – which was awarded Sept. 17 and is Valley Forward’s top environmental honor – Gonzales Pass also earned a first-place Valley Forward award in the site development and landscape (public sector) category.

Valley Forward is an association that advocates for a balance between development and the environment. In addition to the annual Environmental Excellence Awards presentation, Valley Forward also conducts a yearly Livability Summit and EarthFest Educators Night.

About the Gonzales Pass project …

This project was one that had a few challenges. But, because of a great partnership, crews worked through those issues and opened the road in Oct. 2008 – eight months ahead of schedule and about $2.5 million under the $40 million budget.

The location of this section of US 60 between Florence Junction and Superior – a scenic and environmentally sensitive portion of the Tonto National Forest – compounded the challenges faced by the project team. Extraordinary care had to be taken in order to minimize the impact of the highway’s construction.

Crews went to great lengths to control erosion, repair excavated areas and salvage and replant more than 18,000 cacti and other desert plants. In addition, the team constructed ramps connected to box and pipe culverts under the road to help wildlife, such as desert tortoises, to cross the highway safely. They also developed an innovative program to prevent storm water pollution by installing parallel roadway ditches and sediment-settling basins.

Valley Forward took note and has this to say about the efforts:

“The project team made environmental sensitivity a key priority in efforts to improve safety and capacity of the narrow, two-lane roadway by widening it to a four-lane facility.”

Congratulations to the project team, which included employees from ADOT, Jacobs Engineering, Logan Simpson Design, Dibble Engineering, AECOM, Kiewit Construction, Saguaro Geoservices, Corral Dybas Group and the Tonto National Forest!

For details on some of the current statewide projects ADOT is working on, visit our Projects page.

Instead of holding their annual meeting in a conference room, key stakeholders in one of ADOT’s oldest partnerships took a bus tour through the Tonto National Forest to get a close look at the projects made possible by their collaboration.

And, I was lucky enough to tag along!

ADOT is involved in many partnerships, but this one is between ADOT (we build the roads), the Federal Highway Administration (they provide some of the funding) and the Tonto National Forest (they care for the forest through which some ADOT roads travel). For more on what a partnership entails, just check out this recent blog post.

On May 10, the bus left Mesa early in the morning and headed north on State Route 87.

First on the agenda: a roadway improvement project spanning about five miles between New Four Peaks and Dos S Ranch roads. Some good news for motorists … work on this one is nearly complete! In fact, ADOT crews were scheduled to remove all major traffic restrictions on SR 87 by May 14. Joel Mona of the Tonto National Forest gave an update on the $11.8 million project that started last summer and includes the addition of a third southbound lane to enhance safety and traffic flow.  

The next project we came across was about two miles north on State Route 87, also known as the Beeline Highway or Duthie-Martin Highway. This part of the project called for crews to repair some slopes and ditches and reinforce a few embankments.

By the way – any idea on what a ‘rock wattle’ is?

It’s a funny name, but actually a useful feature that ADOT used for the first time on this project. A rock wattle is a layer of rocks placed on a slope that helps slow and direct water runoff. Straw wattles are sometimes used for the same purpose.

Next, we passed through Payson and headed on to Little Green Valley, a three-mile section of State Route 260 that started out as two lanes, but is being turned into a four-lane divided highway. Work started in summer 2009 and should be done by this fall.

Challenges on this part of the project have highlighted why the partnership is so valuable.

ADOT partners with Tonto National Forest and FHWA.

Partnering paved the way to a unique agreement between ADOT and the Tonto National Forest regarding water needed for the project construction. ADOT worked with the forest officials to drill wells on forest land for use on projects along SR 260. The agreement outlines how ADOT will eventually recharge those wells to levels within one foot of where they were when the project started.

ADOT Facilitator Bonnie Opie said every project will have issues, but it's the way those issues are resolved that can make a project great.

"The partnering process provides teams with the tools they need to resolve issues in a productive manner," she said.

Rounding out the day was a trek through Doubtful Canyon, just east of Little Green Valley. This project will construct three miles of divided four-lane highway. Work is scheduled for completion by fall 2012 and includes six concrete bridges, improved drainage and additional fencing to protect elk and other wildlife.

The trip back to Mesa gave everyone on the tour a chance to talk about how this partnership has positively impacted the projects seen during the day.

But, Karla Petty, administrator of the FHWA Arizona division, might have summed it up best very early on in the trip when she mused on why partnerships work and said simply: “We can get more done by working together.”

If you've ever worked on any sort of team you know it takes a lot of trust, communication and cooperation from everyone to achieve what the group is working toward.

You’re probably also aware of what happens when that cooperation isn't there ... it can be a bad experience for everyone!

Now, imagine the large-scale projects that ADOT works on with other agencies, municipalities and organizations. There are so many stakeholders that you would think getting everyone to agree on anything would be near impossible -- but it’s not.

ADOT uses an effective technique to work with other groups, agencies, organizations and even internally. It’s called partnering and was first used by the agency in 1991.

Basically, partnering is a formal way for groups to work together and resolve issues. Partnering documents aren't legally binding contracts, but rather agreements among all the parties involved. They spell out what’s expected of everyone and (most importantly) dictate how to solve problems if they arise.

There are a few different types of partnerships at ADOT. Project partnerships are formed among ADOT, contractors and any project stakeholders at the start of a project. Internal partnerships are similar and are formed among different departments within ADOT.

Public Partnerships are formed between ADOT and other state, local and federal agencies and non-governmental stakeholders. These public partnerships allow ADOT and other agencies to build great relationships before, during and after they might work on a project together.

Before ADOT used partnering, arguments, claims and litigation were part of the norm because expectations weren't clearly spelled out in advance. Projects were often late and over budget.

Since ADOT began using partnering in 1991, projects are delivered on time and within budget. Claims were reduced from about 60 per year to less than one per year and since 2003, there have been NO claims.

Check back later this week for an up-close look at ADOT's partnership with the Tonto National Forest, and for more on how ADOT uses partnering, visit our Partnering site.