Megaproject Success: Hoover Dam Construction and Pre-Construction Management Ingenuity
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Construction of the Hoover Dam was the largest public project in the United States to date and ushered in an age of infrastructure megaprojects by federal agencies. Confronting technical, organizational, and physical risks, the Hoover Dam was delivered two years ahead of schedule and within the budgeted cost for construction. The technical challenges and successful results for this megaproject are well documented but the pre-construction planning and construction management innovations have received little attention. In retrospect, the Hoover Dam remains unique as it created the mold of structuring the relationship between government requirements and private-sector expertise to successfully deliver on megaproject objectives, cost, and schedule. Modern megaproject construction, pre-project planning, and construction management often do not follow the Hoover Dam best practices that incorporated ingenuity and creativity. The best practices and lessons learned during the planning and construction of the Hoover Dam can and should be applied to current and future federal megaprojects. 2010 American Society of Civil Engineers.
