Understanding Construction Change Orders

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March 28th, 2025

This report identifies common issues that result in change orders and cause project delays and overruns, organized into three main categories relating to the quality of technical project development work, influences of organizational culture, and uncertainty introduced by financial forces. It also describes best practices to minimize and mitigate change orders and highlights noteworthy project delivery practices currently used by project sponsors of various transportation modes. Enhancing understanding of construction change orders can help practitioners with limited experience in federally funded transportation projects, along with their partners, achieve better project delivery outcomes.

Read the full report here.