Heavy civil construction describes large-scale engineering projects typically associated with infrastructure or public works. Civil projects include transportation systems (e.g. highways, bridges and tunnels, railways, airports), utilities (e.g. water and sewage systems, communication and power distribution networks) and other large-scale public works projects. These projects are often referred to broadly as “horizontal construction” because they are typically longer than they are tall.
Civil and infrastructure projects are typically highly engineered with complex designs. As a result, the predevelopment phase and preconstruction phase can be incredibly extensive. It is not uncommon for preconstruction on a civil project to span multiple years.
The pool of contractors available to agencies undertaking civil or infrastructure projects tend to be significantly more limited than on other types of projects. This is in large part due to the high barriers to entry: Heavy civil projects often require specialized heavy equipment and demonstrated experience delivering unique project specifications.
Contractors often start out subcontracting on smaller civil projects in order to build their resume – and relationships – before bidding on bigger government contracts. Others may partner with an existing government contractor to develop the civil construction experience necessary to qualify for open bidding.