The bill amends the Code of West Virginia to enhance the Highway Design-Build Program and introduces a new Construction Manager/General Contractor (CM/GC) contracting program for the Division of Highways. It allows the Commissioner of Highways to expedite project construction by combining design and construction into a single contract and sets monetary limits for both design-build and CM/GC projects. Specifically, the bill establishes limits of $200 million for any single project and $300 million for total aggregate amounts in a fiscal year, with higher limits for projects financed with bonds. Additionally, projects funded above federal core funding levels and those necessitated by declared emergencies are exempt from these limits.

The bill also mandates that the Commissioner propose rules for the CM/GC agreements, which must be established before entering into any such contracts. Furthermore, it requires the Division of Highways to report annually to the Legislature on the use of alternative project delivery methods, including evaluations of cost and time savings, change orders, and overall project quality. This legislative change aims to improve efficiency and flexibility in highway project delivery while ensuring accountability through reporting requirements.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 17-2D-1, 17-2D-2, 17-2D-6
Committee Substitute: 17-2D-1, 17-2D-2, 17-2D-5, 17-2D-6
Enrolled Committee Substitute: 17-2D-1, 17-2D-2, 17-2D-5, 17-2D-6