Fast-tracking of construction projects: a case study

The growing use of professional construction management has been synonymous with the development of new project delivery systems such as the phased construction approach and the fast-tracking technique. This paper establishes the distinction between these two types of approach which have become increasingly popular for reducing project duration. The paper further illustrates, through a case study, the possible consequences of compressing and overlapping design activities in a fast-track program to expedite project delivery. A delay analysis shows the impact of this accelerated technique on construction activities. The far-reaching effect of mistakes during the early design/engineering phase in a fast-track program is usually underrated. Accelerating a project through fast-tracking is a major decision, and construction professionals often are not aware of its implications. Based on the case study examined in this paper and other fast-track constructions previously analyzed, trouble areas requiring special ...