Another busy year with limited consulting, research and papers relating to delivery of complex infrastructure projects worldwide. The year started with a presentation at the UCA Fox Conference in New York City, tracing the development of advanced collaborative contracting practices over the last 30 years including Alliancing, Progressive Design-Build- and related approaches such as Project 13 (UK) and Progressive Partnering (Europe)
Consulting: included assignments with HNTB including risk analysis of the probable effect on adjacent structures of the very large tunnel boring machine for the BART extension to San Jose; risk related to movements of a 100 year old tunnel for a light rail line in San Francisco, and consideration of tunnel alternatives for replacement of the Tobin bridge in Boston.
Research, Upcoming Papers 2026: With colleagues at the University of Munich, a paper addressing the evolution of various contract and delivery processes developed over the past 30 years which, in general, have moved from fixed-price hard money contracting to more inclusive, flexible and collaborative methods – with the potential to better control cost exposure for owners and increase profits for contractors. The paper will give specifics of current and developing methodologies and will describe implementation for underground projects in Europe – processes and outcomes
International Tunneling Association: John is contributing to a report of ITA Working Group 20 (which he initiated in 2002) on the choice between one very large Tunnel/TBM or two smaller tunnels. This topic is relevant as the size and capability of Tunnel Boring Machines now routinely meets or exceeds the size of the Alaskan Way Project TBM in Seattle (57.5 feet / 17.5 meters) which John worked on.
John is also editing the initial Chapters of the ITA “Guideline on the Procurement of Tunnel Boring Machines”, which draws significantly from his papers on this topic, printed in TunnelTalk in 2020 and 2021 (link to these papers on the HOME page). This includes recommendations regarding who should choose the machine – owner, consultant or contractor – and a suggested process to increase the drive capability of the TBM, cost to be justified by a risk/benefit analysis. The Guideline is being developed by ITA Working Groups 3 and 14.