A Legacy of Collaboration
In 2006, Michigan’s Construction Quality Partnership (CQP) brought together state and local road agencies, contractors, and designers in an innovative collaboration focused on construction quality excellence. The CQP represented a paradigm shift from specification enforcement and end-product inspection to continual quality process control at all stages—specifications, design, and construction.
The original CQP partners included the Michigan Department of Transportation, United States Department of Transportation, County Road Association of Michigan, Michigan Municipal League, Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association, Michigan Road Preservation Association, Michigan Concrete Association, Asphalt Pavement Association of Michigan, and American Council of Engineer Companies of Michigan.
Through the CQP, these organizations worked together on specification enhancements, improved design processes, warranty programs, operations committees, and training initiatives. The partnership’s success in these areas demonstrated the power of collaboration between industry and government partners.
Today’s Collaborative Framework
While the formal CQP structure no longer convenes, the lessons learned and relationships built through that process continue to shape Michigan’s approach to quality improvement in transportation infrastructure. Today, many of the original CQP partners and others collaborate through Michigan’s State Transportation Innovation Council (MI-STIC) and other partnership initiatives.
MRPA continues to work closely with MDOT, local agencies, and industry associations to advance quality standards, develop specifications, promote best practices, and support continuous improvement in pavement preservation. This collaborative spirit, first formalized through the CQP, remains central to how Michigan’s transportation community approaches quality challenges and pursues innovative solutions.
Current Partnership Initiatives
Michigan State Transportation Innovation Council (MI-STIC)
The MI-STIC brings together stakeholders from MDOT, FHWA, and association partners to lead innovation in Michigan’s transportation program and foster a collaborative culture supporting rapid implementation of meaningful innovations for a modern, high-quality highway system. MRPA’s executive vice president serves as a member of MI-STIC, ensuring pavement preservation perspectives are represented in innovation discussions.
MRPA/MDOT Technical Committee
MRPA’s executive vice president co-chairs this committee with MDOT’s capital preventive maintenance engineer to develop specifications and resolve technical issues between industry and MDOT, ensuring efficiency and excellence in delivery of MDOT’s annual capital preventive maintenance program.
Pavement Preservation Operations Committee (P2OC)
MRPA’s executive vice president co-chairs the P2OC with MDOT’s engineer of construction field services. This committee is responsible for pavement preservation specifications, technical issues related to pavement preservation, and evaluation of new products and method innovations.
Through these and other initiatives, MRPA partners with government agencies and industry partners to promote quality, innovation, and continuous improvement in Michigan’s pavement preservation program.
