Minnesota CRAVE

Spurred by the collapse of the I-35W Bridge in Minneapolis, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) was tasked with developing an improvement program for accelerating the repair and replacement of trunk highway bridges across the state. Twelve projects valued at $1.9 billion were selected for the program, including eleven major bridge projects and one roadway project. We were tasked with helping Mn/DOT develop and validate budgets and schedules in less than three months for presentation to the Minnesota Legislature.

We employed our Cost Risk Assessment and Value Engineering (CRAVE™) process for each of the 12 projects. CRAVE™ works by combining the tools and processes of a cost risk assessment with those of a streamlined value engineering process. We conducted all 12 CRAVE™ workshops, supplementing Mn/DOT's staff and utilizing our subject matter experts to dramatically reduce the resources Mn/DOT needed to complete the job. At the conclusion of the workshops, project managers were provided a risk management plan and a self-modeling spreadsheet so they could continue to update the project risk profile as each project progressed.

This was the first time Mn/DOT had integrated cost risk assessment and value engineering. The CRAVE™ studies were a fiscal success. The qualitative rate of return, or savings due to the recommendations/cost of studies, is better than 500:1.

Awards

• 2010 - Seven Wonders of Engineering Award, Minnesota Society of Professional Engineers
• 2010 - Grand Award, American Council of Engineering Companies of Minnesota
• 2010 - Most Value Added Proposal - Improved Process Award, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials'