Construction – The Devil’s in the Detailed Design

Rigid pavement RFIs (request for information) and NCRs (nonconformance report) are an ongoing battle between contractors and designers. This is the frontline of construction phase services (CPS) and when not managed correctly, can lead to tension between contractors and designers, which can lead to breakdown of communications and affect construction programmes and critical paths. This paper reviews a diverse group of CPS challenges observed on WestConnex Stage 1b (M4 East), a project that included long tunnels and complex surface works. It discusses each party’s expectations and realities in relation to the resolution of each RFI/NCR. For each case discussed, a resolution and corresponding recommendation is provided for future CPS works.