Case Study as to the Effectiveness of Dispute Review Boards on the Central Artery/Tunnel Project

The most prevalent use of the dispute review board (DRB) process in the United States to date is the central artery/tunnel project located in Boston. A DRB is a three-member panel jointly chosen by the contractor and owner that is present throughout the course of the contract, and whose responsibility it is to hear disputes contemporaneously with their occurrence. This paper reviews the efficacy of the DRB on the central artery/tunnel project answering such questions as to whether or not (1) there was any discernable bid savings between DRB and non-DRB contracts; (2) the DRB was successful in resolving all disputes prior to contract completion; (3) were there any barriers to the DRB’s effectiveness, concerning bid savings; and (4) the DRB reduced the costs of resolving disputes. The questions are timely and important in an industry that looks for new ways to reduce construction costs and values timely prevention and resolution to disputes.