Question

In: Operations Management

Assume that a three-year bridge construction project has just concluded resulting in a modern six-lane structure...

Assume that a three-year bridge construction project has just concluded resulting in a modern six-lane structure that spans a major river connecting two cities. Each of the two cities resides in a different state. The new bridge replaces a late-1940s steel structure two-lane bridge that was originally dedicated to World War II military veterans. The new bridge was constructed approximately 100 yards upstream from the bridge that it will be replacing. The old bridge is still standing and in operation, but destruction of the old bridge will begin approximately two weeks after the new bridge is dedicated and opened to traffic. The local Chambers of Commerce in each of the two cities connected by the bridge have been pushing for its replacement for the past 20 years. Various politicians at many state and local levels from each state have been actively involved (either in supporting or opposing the push to get the project funded, scheduled, and completed). At least two area historical groups have been vocal, especially in the past four years, about the old bridge's future. Representatives of smaller towns and cities along the major highways leading into the two cities that the new bridge connects have long supported the bridge renovation and have recently hailed it as a great boost to the region's economy. There are multiple newspapers in each of the two cities that the bridge connects, with one dominant newspaper that serves both markets. One of the cities connected by the bridge has four local television stations and the city in the other state has none. Workers from a general contractor and seventeen subcontractors have worked on the new bridge project, as well as employees of the primary Architectural firm and two consulting Architectural firms. Various state and federal government agencies have been directly or indirectly involved in the project as well. As the river spanned by the new bridge is a navigable river downstream from the bridge and also for a much shorter distance upstream from the bridge, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has also been actively involved. Various lobbying groups have supported or opposed the bridge project during its life and during the years leading up to the project getting started. These lobbyists have been the voice of many different types of groups that range across many interests from environmental groups to trucking industry groups as examples. As the new bridge has required that new highway approaches be constructed along each side of the river that it spans, various businesses and two very small residential neighborhoods have been impacted by the new bridge's approach roads. Several small businesses on either side of the river from the old bridge fear that life will change dramatically when the old bridge closes. The arts community in the region has successfully sought to provide input into the design of the new bridge and that bridge will feature special lighting to make it aesthetically appealing at night. The project manager for the new bridge and the key project team members have worked diligently for the entire duration of the project to bring the project to completion within one week of the scheduled completion date and slightly under budget. Inspection of the new bridge, to ensure that it meets specifications and is safe for the public, is currently underway and will be completed within the next month. The new bridge project has been completed with a combination of local, federal, and state (from each of the two states) funding. REQUIRED: Prepare a two-to-four page Microsoft Word format document (with one-inch margins all around in a 10 or 12-point Times New Roman or Arial font). Please place an appropriate assignment heading on the document containing the assignment number, the submitting student name, etc. in a format that is the same as students have been instructed to use in previous assignments in this course. In that document, please respond (in full sentences and appropriate paragraph structure) to the following two multi-part questions: 1. What should be done to ensure appropriate closure of this project and why? 2. Should this project have a project audit? Why or why not? If it should have a project audit, then how should that project audit be done and why? (Be sure to address the who, what, when, where, why, and how parts of this last subquestion as well as mentioning the general characteristics of a high-quality project audit effort, should you elect to state that a project audit should be done.)

Solutions

Expert Solution

1. PROCEDURE FOR THE APPROPRIATE CLOSURE OF THE PROJECT:

In the given case the new bridge has been open for the piblic use so the old bridge has to be closed. For the closure of old bridge various procedures should be followed. The inspection rating report is essential for the bridge to be closed and for the new bridge opening. District Bridge Engineer has to take all neccessary steps for the closure of the old bridge. The inspection team has to be appointed for inspection and they should submit the detailed reports of the findings.

For the closer of a bridge the District Highway Director, District Bridge Inspection Engineer, Area Bridge Engineer and State Bridge Engineer shall do different inspections by following different procedures.

2. PROJECT AUDIT:

The project should have the project audit to ensure the safety of the project for the community people. Project audit the persons involved in the procedures shall study the project in detail regarding various areas. There in the inspection report more of valuable information are mentioned by the authorities. Information like:

  • Public safety and structural issues.
  • Bridge maintenance system
  • Requirement for any immediate repairs
  • History of bridge structure
  • Recommendations for maintenance and repairs

Project audit procedures are mentioned in the following table:

PERSONS INVOLVED IN INSPECTION DETAILS TO BE FOLLOWED
District Highway Director
  • Public contact and make them the clearance of bridge requirement and possible causes.
  • Assess the impacts of the society
  • Political impacts to be studied
  • Give necessary information to the concerned authorities and follow up procedures.
District Bridge Inspection Engineer
  • Indicate the type, structure, owner, history, typr of inspection and other related details.
  • Intimate the information to the concerned authorities for the further followup procedures.
Area Bridge Engineer
  • Study the received information and forward the reports to State Bridge Engineer for the further study and follow up.
State Bridge Engineer
  • Review the received reports and discuss with authorities Bridge Inspector to determine the necessary actions to be taken for requirements.


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