Among a variety of responsibilities, transportation agencies must provide the general public with the best highway facilities possible, given available resources. Traditionally, agencies engaged in extensive testing and inspection efforts to ensure construction quality and thus the satisfactory performance of the facility. Although these efforts served the public well, they consumed an appreciable amount of resources. Throughout the country, limitations on staffing levels, combined with expanding construction programs, are forcing agencies to reexamine current levels of testing and inspection and the manner in which these quality assurance efforts are accomplished.

The objective of this research was to develop administrative and technical guidelines for transportation agencies to use in establishing methods and optimal levels of inspection and testing for construction programs and projects. Innovation was critical for the successful accomplishment of the research objective.

The research resulted in an interim report that was made available only to NCHRP sponsors.