When we think of a foundation, we tend to picture what’s visible: the concrete slab under a bridge, the finished pavement of a highway, or the portal of a tunnel cutting into a hillside. These are the physical starting points that we can see, touch, and measure. But real foundations, especially in transportation infrastructure, start where we can’t see. They begin in the layers of soil, rock, and groundwater beneath the surface. If those conditions aren’t well understood or accounted for early on, they can easily become the most unpredictable and expensive elements of a project. Why the subsurface matters more than ever Unforeseen ground conditions are one of the top causes of delays and cost overruns in transportation projects. According to the 2024 CRUX Insight Report, they’re the second most common reason for construction claims globally. Obscured ground conditions aren’t just about minor setbacks; they are a growing risk that can derail entire project timelines and budgets. Many of our transportation systems are aging, built at a time when geotechnical standards were less rigorous or based on limited data. At the same time, environmental pressures—including flooding, subsidence, and extreme weather—are increasing, adding strain to infrastructure that may already be