3.4.4.4 Project selection for the annual program

The multi-annual program should be reviewed annually to update the list of projects with the highest priority that can be delivered from the available budget and produce an annual works program or annual plan (UKRLG and HMEP 2013).

In generating the annual program, consideration must be given to projects deferred in the last year, the backlog of needs, and the updated availability of resources (Austroads 2009). Projects in the annual works program should already have undergone a detailed design process and be ready for delivery. This enables contractors to plan the works properly and minimize any potential risks. In project design, the collection of additional detailed data on the involved assets should be considered to ensure that the proposed intervention produces the expected outcomes. Also, a more detailed cost estimate for each project should be made allowing a suitable contingency for risk (UKRLG and HMEP 2013).