• Highway construction is one of the most significant responsibilities of each state. In Alaska, contractors who are hired to build highways must follow a number of specifications in bidding for and doing this work. While a contract is signed between the State of Alaska and the contractor, the regulations in the Standard Specifications to Highway Construction are considered a part of every highway construction contract.
  
  

Bidding on the Project

• Bidders must include evidence of contractor registration and Alaska business license with their bid. The bid application must include the location of the project, an explanation of the project, an estimate of the amount of work to be performed and materials to be used, a bond and a time frame for completing the project along with the project plans. A bid will be rejected if it is not signed by an agent of the contractor or if it includes the right to decline a contract from the state.
  
  While contractors have access to material and soil reports furnished by the Alaska Department of Transportation, they should not rely entirely on these records. They must complete their own independent investigation.
  
  

Construction Process

• Before starting work on a highway, the contractor must remove buildings, structures, fences and old pavement. The debris from nonexplosive materials can be put inside embankments provided that this debris is not from metal pipes and wires. The debris can be buried, but it must be placed at least 2 feet in the ground. If rock needs to be removed, it can be excavated by blasting. However, the contractor must present a blasting plan that is compiled by a licensed blaster. The plan must detail the time and date of each part of the project, the specific layout where each blast will be performed and an explanation of the type of explosives that will be used.
  
  

Inspection of Work

• All work will be inspected by an engineer from the Alaska Department of Transportation. The engineer has discretion on numerous matters relating to the work. He determines if the materials used in construction are proper and he can stop work on a project if it is not being done according to regulations. If the engineer gives an oral command to stop work, he will follow up with a written order. Throughout the construction process, the engineer will inspect the work and review financial records relating to the project. When the project is completed, the contractor must send a written notification to the engineer. The engineer will then complete a final review of the work. If any of the work is not completed properly, the engineer will give the contractor a list of tasks that must be done to achieve completion. When the engineer determines that the job is completed and all the necessary paperwork has been filed, he will give the contractor a letter stating that the work has been accepted.