Design Constructability Training Brings FDOT District 2 and Industry Professionals Together

Florida’s asphalt industry and FDOT professionals came together on October 14th for a hands-on day of learning, discussion, and collaboration during the first Design Constructability Training. Nearly 90 engineers from across District 2 attended the all-day event, designed to help bridge communication between designers and paving contractors to improve project delivery and performance on Florida’s roadways.

Insight from FDOT’s State Offices

The day kicked off with presentations from Richard Hewitt, P.E. and Mary Jane Hayden, P.E. of the FDOT State Construction and State Design Offices. Both shared updates on current initiatives and highlighted how early collaboration between design and construction teams leads to better, more efficient outcomes on Florida projects.

Their presentation set the stage for a day focused on problem-solving, industry teamwork, and applying design intent to real-world construction capabilities and constraints.

Open Conversation: The Panel Discussion

A highlight of the day was the panel discussion, which brought together FDOT leaders and asphalt industry professionals for an honest look at constructability challenges and opportunities.

Panelists included:

• Christopher Dicks, P.E., FDOT District 2 Roadway Design Engineer

• Joe Meier, Middlesex Corporation

• Chris Harris, Anderson Columbia Company, Inc.

• Rick Crocker, Preferred Materials, Inc.

• Scott Fowler and Richard Brown, Ranger Construction Industries, Inc.

From design considerations to on-site realities, the panel emphasized the importance of understanding construction equipment capabilities during the design phase and having communication between designers and contractors during construction to ensure successful and efficient project completions.

Hands-On Learning: Equipment in Action

No asphalt constructability event would be complete without seeing the work up close. Attendees had the chance to see equipment up close and personal thanks to Beard Equipment, Wirtgen Group, and Ring Power CAT.

• Beard Equipment and Wirtgen Group showcased milling operations.

• Ring Power CAT provided paving demonstrations, giving participants a real-world look at the paving process.

Special thanks to Phil Ireland and Mark Halvorsen with Ring Power CAT for leading the paver walk-through, and to Tom Chastain and Tommy Wilson with Wirtgen Group for explaining the milling machine capabilities and constraints.

Connecting Design to the Field

Throughout the day, participants also viewed videos on asphalt production and paving that tied design theory to what actually happens in the field. These sessions helped engineers and designers visualize how construction techniques, mix design, and project specifications all come together during paving. Special thanks to Asphalt Testing Solutions & Engineering and Duval Asphalt Products, Inc. for their fantastic videos on their YouTube channel!

The open discussions that followed were lively, helping both FDOT and industry participants identify practical ways to enhance communication and consistency in future projects.

Looking Ahead

The success of this first event showed just how valuable these conversations and demonstrations are to Florida’s asphalt community.

We’re grateful to all who participated in the day’s success and we’re looking to plan this Design Constructability Training to more FDOT districts in the near future. Be on the lookout through our Newsletter or e-mail us at info@acaf.org to be informed when we come to your district!