In an effort to improve the timeliness and methods of communicating revisions to PennDOT's ...
CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES
APC is compiling information to help keep its members and the transportation construction industry informed on important issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
LATEST UPDATES
PennDOT Issues UAS Guidance – Utilizing Drones for Social Distancing
The document provides interim policy for the employment of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS),...
PennDOT to Pull Back on Contracts
Earlier we reported the $100 million deficit in April Motor License Fund revenue estimates due to...
Updated Restart Guidance
There has been a need to introduce a change to the Revised Guidance for Restarting Construction...
Check Your COVID19 Safety Plan
The COVID-19 Project Restart Guidance Document directs that “Contractors and Consultants are...
Niederriter – Latham Participate in Call with Elaine Chao
APC President Chuck Niederriter and Executive Bob Latham this week participated in a stakeholders'...
CDL Services
Many Construction projects in Pennsylvania will resume beginning Friday, May 1, 2020 as part of...
May 1 Restart for Most PennDOT Projects
With the governor’s April 22 announcement that all construction can resume May 1, PennDOT and the...
APC Members are Rising to the Occasion
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, APC members have stepped up to the challenge to ensure that...
Flagging Training Extension
The Department has issued the following: In accordance with Governor Wolf’s March 11, 2020...
RESOURCES
COVID-19 GUIDANCE RESTARTING CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS - Revised
The following document provides guidance for use by PennDOT and the PA Turnpike Commission in restarting construction projects that were suspended in response to COVID-19 mitigation.
- Supplement No. 1, Revision 2 to the COVID-19 Guidance Restarting Construction Projects
- The CDC does not recommend using masks for source control if they have an exhalation valve or vent
- Gatherings are limited to 250 people (outdoors) and 25 people (indoors) in counties in the green phase of reopening.
- Protocol 34 – Revision 6 (9-3-2020)
- Supplement No. 1 COVID-19 Guidance Restarting Construction Projects
- Addresses issues and concerns on the use of masks/face coverings.
- Conveys revisions to the Governor’s April 23, 2020 Construction Guidance related to the Red, Yellow, and Green Phases of Reopening Pennsylvania.
- Guidance for Restarting Construction Projects (RevA)
- The Phase 1 process as modified via PennDOT transmittal letters to contractors is being used for PennDOT’s Emergency and Critical restarted projects. No timetable has been set for restarting remaining temporarily suspended projects.
- PRESS RELEASE 03.31.20 –
Work Continues on PennDOT Emergency and Critical Highway and
Bridge Infrastructure Projects
PA Department of Health
PA Department ofLabor & Industry
PENNDOT / UAS GUIDANCE - UTILIZING DRONES FOR SOCIAL DISTANCING
This document provides interim policy for the employment of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), otherwise known as drones during this period of social distancing as a precaution for COVID-19.
Process to Reopen Pennsylvania
Process to Reopen Pennsylvania – Governor Tom Wolf
CRITICAL PROJECTS
Listing of jobs deemed critical for restart by PemmDOT.
- Critical Projects by District (pdf / as of 03.31.20)
BEARER LETTER FOR EMPLOYEES
SUGGESTED LANGUAGE FOR INCLUSION IN A BEARER LETTER FOR EMPLOYEES OF HIGHWAY CONTRACTORS OR FIRMS SERVICING EMERGENCY/CRITICAL HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS:
- BEARER LETTER SAMPLE (docx)
- BEARER LETTER SAMPLE (pdf)
PennDOT – COVID19 Jobsite Safety Procedure
- COVID-19 Safety Plan Implementation
(information found in specific job addenda) - Supplemental Addendum to QC plan for CO-VID19 safety implementation for Aggregate, Asphalt or Ready-Mix Concrete operations and QC LABS (PACA Template)
- COVID19 Hygiene and Cleaning Best Practices
- Guidelines for Maintaining Life Sustaining Operations on Construction Projects
- UAS Usage for Construction Inspection
- Entering PennDOT Facilities During COVID-19 Mitigation
- Protocol 32 – PennDOT Vehicles-Equipemnt Cleanliness
PDOT QC Plan/Site-Specific COVID-19 Plan
Linked below are 2 templates prepared by the PA Asphalt Pavement Association in order to comply with the PennDOT/PTC requirement for “Restarting Construction Projects” for aggregate, concrete, and asphalt facilities. The templates were created by Mark Moyer, New Enterprise Stone and Lime Co.
OSHA Guidance on Recordkeeping
U.S. Department of Homeland Security / Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency
LINKS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
APC Questions and Answers (to the best of our ability as of April 2, 2020)
Are the 61 emergency/critical projects that have been started part of the Phase One Restart?
No, the 61 project restarted were done so because they are emergency and critical projects. Contractors who have Phase One projects will be contacted for restart at a later date.
Where are the documents you spoke of regarding safety requirements on PENNDOT ECMS site?
Is there a published list of the 61 projects that are returning to work?
YES. Contractors will be contacted individually if their project is among those to restart. There are approximately 800 active projects that are currently directed to cease operations.
- Critical Projects By District (pdf / 03.31.20)
Will the 61 projects open up for all types of work activities or just "low" risk activities?
Projects are determined by District, not necessarily by type of work.
Any idea when other projects beyond the 61 will restart?
This is very fluid. Hopefully, more will move in the next two weeks.
Has our industry been designated as Life Sustaining?
Highway, Street and Bridge Construction has a notation that emergency work may continue. The press release refers to emergency and critical work. See suggested Bearer Letter language on the APC website.
If your company is part of the 61-project restart, does that also mean that the offices are allowed to reopen in support of the work?
DCED website states that individuals do NOT need documentation to travel. Why this Bearer letter?
Since there is so much confusion as to what is a Life Sustaining business, we suggest you keep a copy of a Bearer letter on your letterhead and a copy of the March 31 press release at your office or worksite or with employees visiting a possible jobsite during the bidding process. Reminder: this is suggested language not definitive language or legal advice.
What will be required of our subcontractors? Will it be assumed that they follow the general contractor’s COVID-19 plan or do they need their own?
The Guidance for Restart for Construction Projects addresses that issue.
Will projects be moved from the April 9th letting? If so, will the new 408 be implemented on the moved projects? The sooner we know if and when the letting dates are moved will really help with the volume of let projects?
As of April 3, there were 31 projects on the list for the April 9 Letting. It is PennDOT’s intention to let all of those projects unless there is a particular issue with bid documents on a particular project. There may be one project added to the April 9 letting.
In light of the Governor's order are contractors legally allowed to perform pre-bid site visits for jobs currently being let in PA?
Yes
What are your thoughts on getting employees to return to work who are getting an additional $600.00 per week on unemployment?
Individual companies will have to make determinations regarding how to handle personnel issues.
Are the projects being let considered emergency, especially if they fall within a county that has a "Stay-At-Home" Order? Are the non-essential contractors allowed to look at the projects being bid in those Counties?
Yes.
Who is supplying the contractors with an "Essential Employee Letter" in the event stopped by emergency personnel?
Suggested bullet points letter:
- BEARER LETTER SAMPLE (docx)
- BEARER LETTER SAMPLE (pdf)
Can local township projects resume if the municipality wants to resume? And, Are Local projects allowed to restart work following the CDC Guidelines or are they to remain on hold?
APC is asking PennDOT for direction regarding Local Sponsor projects.
The following is on the Governor’s website:
“What does this mean for county and local governments?
Governments should use their best judgment in exercising their authorities and issuing implementation directives and guidance.
All such decisions should appropriately balance public health and safety, while ensuring the continued delivery of critical services and functions. Government employees and contractors should continue to operate under the direction of their supervisors.”
The following is on the PSATS’s website:
“Should our road crew be working? That is a decision that each township must make in accordance with the governor’s guidance. Townships must continue to provide emergency maintenance but should refrain from starting new projects. You could also do routine maintenance if appropriate social distancing can be maintained. Many townships are delaying routine maintenance due to the order.”
What can individual contractors do to compel the state to allow construction to continue on all PA DOT, private & other projects?
Some legislators and other building organizations are advocating for entire industry restart.
Once this COVID-19 settles down can the industry use the fact that we are recognized as providing a critical function to our economy to get an increase in highway funding?
There is currently a push in Congress to include infrastructure funding in the next wave of Stimulus funding.