Case Study: I-70 Mountain Corridor (West Vail Pass) – Change Orders from Accelerated Schedule Pressures (2022)
Project Overview
• Name: I-70 West Vail Pass Improvements
• Location: Colorado
• Year: 2022
• Project Size: $700 million
• Scope: Highway realignment, bridge replacements, and wildlife crossings in mountainous terrain
• Lead Agencies/Contractors: Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) /
Category of the Issue, Problem, or Challenge
• Contract Change Order
• Schedule Compression
Summary of the Issue, Problem, or Challenge
Under pressure to accelerate the project due to political and funding constraints, CDOT issued a series of directives requiring contractors to shift sequencing, bring in additional equipment, and work double shifts. The resulting change orders lacked timely cost negotiations and documentation, sparking contractor claims and delays.
Root Cause Analysis
- Fast-tracked work authorized before formal contract modifications
- Change directives lacked pre-approved pricing mechanisms
- Field instructions were inconsistently documented
- Incentive clauses were misaligned with realistic productivity
Impacts Due to the Issue, Problem, or Challenge
• Change order claims totaling $38 million
• Construction slowdowns due to payment disputes
• Reputational strain between CDOT and contractor community
Corrective Actions Taken
- Developed rapid-review pricing protocols for time-sensitive changes
- Instituted written-field directive policies with contractor sign-off
- Introduced independent cost estimators to support change validation
- Updated CDOT’s project delivery manual to manage acceleration risks
Lessons Learned
- Acceleration without structured cost agreement leads to claims
- All field directives must be documented and signed
- Change pricing protocols should be part of fast-track plans
- Incentive structures must align with schedule realism
Audit & Prevention: Project Control Questions to Ask on Future Projects to Help Control the Situation
- Are field changes documented and acknowledged by all parties?
- Do pricing protocols exist for schedule compression scenarios?
- Is there a realistic acceleration clause in the contract?
- Are contractors consulted before issuing high-impact schedule changes?