Case Study: Cost Overrun from Labor Productivity Issues on Dallas Trinity River Project (Dallas, TX, 2012)

Project Overview
• Name: Trinity River Corridor Project
• Location: Dallas, Texas
• Year: 2012
• Project Size: $1.0 billion
• Scope: Flood control and urban park development involving extensive earthworks and bridge construction
• Lead Agencies/Contractors: City of Dallas /

Category of the Issue, Problem, or Challenge
• Labor Productivity
• Cost Management

Summary of the Issue, Problem, or Challenge
Lower-than-expected labor productivity due to skill shortages and adverse weather caused extended schedule and cost overruns.

Root Cause Analysis

• Skilled Labor Shortage: Difficulty recruiting and retaining skilled workers impacted work rates.
• Weather Delays: Heavy rains and flooding restricted site access and productivity.
• Inefficient Scheduling: Poor sequencing of work and resource allocation contributed to delays.
• Communication Gaps: Insufficient coordination between subcontractors led to idle times.

Impacts Due to the Issue, Problem, or Challenge

• Cost overruns estimated at 12%.
• Project extended by four months.
• Increased labor and equipment costs.

Corrective Actions Taken

1. Enhanced workforce training programs and recruitment incentives.
2. Developed detailed weather contingency plans.
3. Improved construction scheduling and resource management software.
4. Fostered better subcontractor coordination with regular meetings and progress tracking.

Lessons Learned

• Labor market conditions must be factored into project planning.
• Robust scheduling and coordination minimize productivity losses.
• Weather risks require proactive mitigation and contingency strategies.

Audit & Prevention: Project Control Questions to Ask on Future Projects to Help Control the Situation

• Has labor availability and skill level been assessed realistically?
• Are schedules optimized to reduce idle time?
• Are weather impacts planned for with contingencies?