Public Inspectors for Safe Infrastructure Act

The Public Inspectors for Safe Infrastructure Act would require that, for federally funded highway construction projects (including design-build and 2-phase contracts), state departments of transportation and local transportation agencies have public employees perform construction inspection functions. If agencies lack adequate staff, they may temporarily hire consultants, but only for up to 12 months. Agencies must report annually to the Secretary describing all temporary inspections and the justification for each exception, and the Secretary must publish these reports publicly online. The bill defines construction inspection functions to include engineering, contract administration, on-site quality control, materials testing, and the duties of resident engineers or assistants responsible for project acceptance or rejection, and defines “public employee” as someone employed by federal, state, or local government.