This bill mandates the involvement of a geotechnical engineer in transportation projects that require geotechnical testing, groundwater testing, and deformation monitoring. The geotechnical engineer is responsible for providing recommendations on the type and frequency of geotechnical tests during the design phase, which must be implemented during construction unless exempted by the State transportation engineer or an equivalent authority. Additionally, construction cannot begin on projects requiring groundwater testing until such testing has been completed, with ongoing monitoring required based on site conditions. The bill also stipulates that deformation data must be collected if necessary, and if deformation exceeds acceptable limits, advanced monitoring will be required post-construction.

Furthermore, the bill emphasizes that the Department of Transportation must adhere to all internal standards and procedures related to subsurface data and cannot waive these standards without proper approval. It clarifies that the provisions do not apply to transportation projects that have already advanced beyond certain developmental milestones. The Department of Transportation is authorized to create regulations to implement the bill's provisions, which will take effect 180 days after enactment.