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Design-Build and Trenchless — A Perfect Solution!

Guy, H.

Regardless of the project delivery method (i.e. Design-Bid-Build, Design-Build, etc), trenchless rehabilitation is often overlooked as a solution to rehabilitate underground infrastructure. Pairing trenchless solutions with Design-Build project delivery, however, produces a powerful synergy that is virtually unequalled in construction. Design-Build (D-B) trenchless solutions bring numerous advantages regarding owner and design costs, design and construction schedules, critical path impacts and risk, and project profit that "dig and replace" alternatives do not. Trenchless solutions help allay some of the main owner "trust with verification" concerns while achieving 50-100 year performance. Additionally, trenchless solutions can provide sustainable design benefits that are increasingly important to customers, designers and the environment. The unique characteristics of D-B project delivery fully capitalize on these advantages. This paper overviews appropriate trenchless technologies and the D-B project delivery. Next, it examines the beneficial relationship between pipeline rehabilitation using trenchless technologies and the D-B project delivery method. It details the criteria for choosing Design-Bid-Build or D-B pipeline rehabilitation from the viewpoints of the owner as well as individual design-build team members. Most importantly, it offers: 1) Owners the "right questions to ask", 2) Engineers the latest in trenchless applications for design-build, and 3) Design-builders another, high-powered tool for ensuring project costs, schedule success and repeat business. Areas of opportunity and conclusions are presented. The primary position reiterates the beneficial relationship between Design-Build project delivery and appropriate trenchless solutions. The elements are far more successful and powerful when combined, than when trenchless is used in other project delivery methods or when Design-Build utilizes "dig and replace" alternatives.