Claims on Highway Contracts

Book excerpt: Most civil engineering projects carried out in the UK which are concerned with the construction or maintenance of highways employ the 5th edition of the ICE Conditions of Contract and the Manual of Contract Documents for Highway Works. In order to maximise returns in construction works (or often, nowadays, to minimise losses) it is necessary for engineers, contractors and clients to have a full understanding of these documents, particularly those elements which have a financial connotation. Claims on highway contracts has been specifically written to explore those parts of the 5th edition of the ICE Conditions of Contract and the Manual of Contract Documents for Highway Works which are particularly important in the commercial aspects of highway contracts and to examine how they apply in claims situations. There have been many books written on claims by lawyers which are full of legalese. Claims on highway contracts is the first, and only book which has been written by a practising engineer who works in this field and has experience of the claims minefield to provide advice in a practical and straightforward manner.