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Surviving Construction FAQ

(Almost) Everything You Wanted to Know About Surviving Construction

We’re building this FAQ from questions submitted by visitors to our site.

If you don’t find the answer to your question here, send us a message or call us at (615) 236-6082.

How far in advance of the construction project’s ground-breaking should we begin to plan and prepare?

Ideally, you should begin work on your plan about two years before the project breaks ground. If your project is less than two years away from breaking ground, don’t panic: there are still steps you can take and ways to expedite work on a plan to survive – and thrive – during construction.

How do we start to plan for construction?

Get plugged into local planning and design processes, and arm yourself with as much information as possible. You can also learn from the experiences of other communities like yours; take notes and compile examples of what worked – and what didn’t work – in their efforts to survive construction.

What happens during a Surviving Construction tech visit?
We tailor the itinerary for each visit in consultation with the client and based on a number of factors such as the status of the project’s design and engineering phase, the anticipated ground-breaking date, the level of organization in the community, etc. As a starting point, click here to view a two-day site visit itinerary example.
What’s the most important key to success for our project?
Preparation, engagement and communication. And when you think you’ve nailed that down, do it again. A broad spectrum of community stakeholders and resources (municipal, schools, civic organizations, media, etc.) must be brought to the table and mobilized to be successful. Communication will be key as plans unfold, decisions are made, and strategies for mitigating adverse impacts are formulated and implemented.
What can the implementing agency do to make the construction project as painless as possible?

The agency implementing the project should work to plan and stage the project in a way that minimizes disruptions. The lead agency should also ensure plans and contracts contain necessary language for means and methods to be followed by the contractor, penalties for failure to meet milestones or completion dates and, in some cases, incentives for early or on-time completion.

What can I do to help my community prepare for construction?
Participate! Get in the loop, share information, and consider volunteering for a task force, committee or project team that will plan, prepare and act to minimize disruptions and adverse impacts. You will help yourself and your community at the same time.
What should my business be doing to prepare for the project?
It often depends on the nature of your business.  If you’re a retail or service business that depends on patrons coming to and through your door, you need to work hard to make sure customers can – and will – continue to do business with you.
What should I expect during the construction project?
If you’ve done your homework, taken time and action to prepare — and with a little good fortune mixed in — everything should go smoothly and you’ll encounter minimal disruptions or problems.  On the other hand, project schedules are susceptible to weather, strikes, material supply issues and a host of other wildcards. You’ll want to do your best to prepare for the expected and the unexpected.
I own a building. What impacts may I expect?
There could be several impacts.  You should arrange to meet with the project sponsor to find out what construction activities will take place near your building.  You may need to do some maintenance activities such as tuck-pointing of exposed foundation areas, or you may need to plan and budget for new or upgraded utility connections that will be installed as part of the project.
How can we ensure good communication during the project?
Communication should be given the highest priority, and there’s plenty you can do to keep communication flowing. Examples include publicizing project milestones, broadcasting regular updates on the project and schedule, hosting regularly scheduled stakeholder update sessions, and maximizing traditional and social media resources to generate interest and keep the community informed.
Do we need a hired or specially designated person to be a construction representative for the project?

This often depends on the complexity, duration, and relative impact of the project.  In nearly all cases there will be a resident engineer assigned to the project from the agency building the project.  However, their concern is primarily their project, and to a lesser extent the impact of their project.  For larger projects, it’s often a good idea to have a construction representative whose primary task is to watch out for the interests of businesses, building owners, and residents.

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Contact us now to learn more about Surviving Construction technical assistance and services, and how our experience can help you survive — and even thrive — during construction.

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If backhoes and bulldozers are on your horizon, we can help.

Call Us

(615) 236-6082

Send Us a Message

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