Civil construction is all around us. It is what creates many of the roads, buildings, and other projects of our communities. But who builds those projects? What does civil construction actually mean? What exactly do civil construction companies do? Here is everything you need to know. What Is Civil Construction? Civil construction is part of civil engineering and involves designing and constructing buildings and facilities that impact the entire community. Private construction involves designing and building private buildings like homes and businesses, but civil construction plays a part in civil works to create projects that benefit the entire community. In most cases, civil construction projects are funded by taxes, grants, or private funds dedicated to the community. These projects are owned and maintained by governments or non-profit organizations instead of being owned by individuals or businesses. Civil construction projects include things like libraries, public hospitals, playgrounds, and community gardens—buildings and places that people visit and use every day and that keep the entire community growing and moving forward. Often, civil engineering and construction work with city planners to create a cohesive plan for the area. What Is Heavy Civil Construction? A separate arm of civil construction is heavy civil construction, which involves designing and constructing more than just buildings. Heavy civil construction includes building roads, bridges, airports, and other projects for the community, as well as maintaining them. Similar to traditional civil construction, these projects aren’t owned by individuals or businesses but are for the good of the community and are typically paid for with grants or taxpayer money. Heavy civil construction has many components and is more than just constructing a building. Large construction projects involve testing the land to make sure it can hold the new construction, coordinating with local leaders for funding, and ensuring that the designs are sturdy and can last for decades to come. These large-scale projects impact the daily lives of people across the community, so there are many considerations that influence the design and construction process. For example, when building a bridge, a heavy civil construction company has to not only make sure it is constructed correctly, but also work with civic leaders and engineers to ensure that the construction work doesn’t impede with daily life for the residents and businesses in the area. The easiest way to build the bridge could be to shut down all traffic in the area, but that could be detrimental to the neighbors, so heavy civil construction companies must find other ways to work. Heavy civil construction covers many of the same areas as traditional civil construction, but it is typically done on a larger scale and with a bigger variety of projects. What Are Heavy Civil Construction Projects? If you’ve driven on a bridge, flown into an airport, or used water from a man-made reservoir, you’ve experienced heavy civil construction in person. Heavy civil construction projects are all around us, and many people don’t realize just how many they see and use every day. Heavy construction projects get their name because they tend to be heavier than average projects, both in size and weight. Heavy civil construction includes a variety of types of projects, including: • Bridges • Dams • Roads and highways • Ports and airports • Canals and reservoirs • Subways and other public transportation • Sewers and wastewater treatment plants • Tunnels What Does a Civil Construction Company Do? Simply put, civil construction companies are in the business of building and maintaining buildings, road, and other infrastructure for the community. But the work goes beyond just constructing buildings. There are many steps to a successful civil construction project, and a civil construction company has to work carefully through the steps and coordinate with other groups and leaders to ensure the project is completed safely, on time, and under budget. Civil construction companies cover a variety of tasks, including: • Site remediation • Site demolition and cleaning • Slope protection and erosion control • Soil stabilization • Stormwater runoff • Street and land grading • Environmental impact studies • Building design • Construction • Maintenance and upgrades Unlike many other types of construction companies, civil construction companies work heavily with civil engineers to ensure the projects are sustainable and built well. Civil construction companies work with a wide variety of experts, engineers, scientists, and laborers throughout every step of the design, construction, and maintenance process. Civil construction companies must be experienced in handling natural environments and working with existing climates, ecosystems, and land structures. Because their projects are so large, they tend to have a bigger impact on the surrounding areas. If civil construction companies don’t have a strong understanding of how to best use and protect the surrounding land, the project could fail and the land could be damaged. Because civil projects are often funded by taxpayer money, civil construction companies also need to deliver projects on time and within the budget. Construction companies must learn to be resourceful and provide long-lasting, quality projects while respecting the taxpayer money they are using. The goal of civil construction projects is to improve the community and create an infrastructure that will stand the test of time. In order to do so, civil construction companies must understand how to build sturdy buildings and other projects that will experience heavy usage. Who Maintains Civil Construction Projects? Civil construction companies are most often responsible for maintaining projects once they are complete. Maintenance for heavy civil construction tends to be more involved than traditional maintenance and can include things like reinforcing walls, improving roads and fixing potholes, updating bridges, and ensuring that the projects are functional and safe. Civil construction companies often work with engineers to perform regular checks of their projects after they are completed, especially if the construction is in a heavy usage area or near land that could become unstable with time or weather. Although the goal of all heavy civil construction projects is to build durable infrastructure, even the strongest projects still need updates and maintenance. Preventative maintenance and regular check-ins with projects can help find issues before they become larger problems and emergencies. It’s much easier and less expensive to fix a small crack in a bridge than waiting for it to lead to damage and missing pieces that are much harder to repair and can have major impact on traffic and public transportation. Maintaining projects is often even more important than the initial construction because civil infrastructure in disrepair can be expensive and frustrating for businesses and citizens. Things like potholes and closed roads cost the average taxpayer around $3,400 a year in lost disposable income. Damaged roads can lead to expensive repairs for motorists. Faulty canals, bridges, dams, and other structures can be not only inefficient and expensive but also dangerous and potentially lead to accidents and long-term damage if they aren’t properly maintained. How Do Civil Construction Companies Operate? Each civil construction company has a different organizational structure, but they tend to follow the same basic format. The general manager oversees multiple projects at a time with a big-picture perspective. Working under that person are project managers, who lead the on-the-ground team. The project manager is on the construction site and coordinates the many moving pieces to ensure the project stays on schedule and budget. In many cases, the project manager is also the person who works with city officials to ensure the project is completed properly according to the funding plans. To earn projects, many civil construction companies submit civil works bids to local governments and non-profit organizations. If a city needs a new port built, they will likely field bids from multiple civil construction companies and choose the bid that best fits their vision and budget. If their plan and design is selected, the civil construction company takes on the project. As part of the contract, they will likely provide regular updates to local officials to keep them up to date on the project’s status, especially if any setbacks arise. Depending on the type of project, there will be different civil construction teams at the worksite. Some companies bring in specialists for each aspect of the project, while others employ a team of generalists that can complete the entire project. The first step is typically bringing in engineers to survey the land and make sure it is able to handle the load of the project. If it isn’t, the land may need to be strengthened or have added drainage.Engineers, soil specialists, and geologists may be needed to ensure the land is ready for construction. Once the land is prepared, teams get to work building the project. Employees are skilled in various areas of construction and engineering, including pouring concrete, welding, and other aspects of construction. Some employees are tasked with crowd management, such as coordinating any changes to traffic patterns that need to happen while the crew works on a road or tunnel, for example. Throughout the entire process, the team works with local officials and has a team of safety engineers to ensure the project is completed safely for the community. How Do You Choose a Civil Construction Company?
Selecting a civil construction company is one of the most important steps in a large-scale construction project. Choosing the right company for your needs will impact the outcome of the project, as well as its schedule and cost. There are many things to consider when choosing a civil construction company, including the following: Experience An experienced civil construction understands the many steps it takes to complete a successful project. Look for a civil construction company that is experienced in your area. Check to see how long the project managers have been working in the field. Because civil construction is a unique field that has more considerations than general construction, it is beneficial to have a company led by experienced managers and workers who understand what it takes to complete a project on time and under budget. An experienced company will also know how to work through any issues that may arise during construction because they have been through them before. Location Civil construction projects vary widely depending on where they occur. Each geographic area has its own climate and unique landscape. What works in one part of the country or the state might not apply in another area. For a project in Colorado, for example, you likely want a company that has done other projects in the area and understands the unique issues relating to the wildlife and land. A project in Colorado will have concerns with climate and need to withstand both high summer temperature and chilling winter winds, but a company that hasn’t worked in the area might not understand how to address those issues. Location also matters for working with local regulations and guidelines. Civil construction companies that have previously worked in your area know how to get permits and follow local laws to ensure the project is completed in line with local safety regulations. Specialty Civil construction is a broad field that covers a large variety of projects. Some civil construction companies offer a wide range of services and are experienced in everything from roads to buildings, while other construction companies specialize only in certain types of projects. A general civil construction company can handle most any project and is typically a good option for a wide variety of needs. However, if your project is more specialized or includes details or unique circumstances, you may want to look for a construction company that specializes in that area. For example, if you are looking to build a bridge that crosses over a dangerous river and has difficult terrain on either side, you likely want to look for a heavy civil construction company that specializes in bridges. But for more general projects, such as building a library or enhancing a community plaza, a general civil construction company will likely do a great job. Cost Civil construction projects, especially heavy civil construction, tend to be quite expensive because they are done on a larger scale than private construction and are intended to be well constructed to stand the test of time. Even with a higher price tag, cost still becomes a large consideration in choosing a construction company. Get multiple bids before you select a company to see how much they will charge to complete your project. When comparing bids, be sure to look carefully at what is included in the costs so you are comparing evenly between companies. One company might seem less expensive, but their price could leave out the design or maintenance fees. The least expensive option isn’t always the best option because you often pay for quality with better materials and workmanship, but cost is definitely a consideration for civil construction. Availability Another thing to consider is a company’s availability. You might find a civil construction company that’s a great fit, but if their schedule is full for the new few months, it could slow you project down and end up costing more money. When looking for civil construction companies, be sure to ask about their schedule and when they will be able to complete your project. In general, the further in advance you schedule your project, the more open companies will be. Waiting to find a construction company until right before your project needs to start will limit your options. Past projects One of the best ways to find a civil construction company is to look at construction projects in your area. If you see a project you like that matches you style and what you are looking for, contact the company to see if they are available for your project. A civil construction company can provide you pictures and locations of its previous projects so you can get an idea of their work. The best advertising for a civil construction company is its previous work, which can give you an idea of their quality and type of work. The company can also provide referrals to past clients who can answer your questions about what it is like to work with the company, if they stuck to the calendar and budget, and any other questions you may have. Civil construction companies play a vital role in keeping societies running and moving forward. The many components of designing, building, and maintaining large infrastructure will keep heavy civil construction companies busy for years to come.
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