Structures & Geotechnical Guidance and Manuals

The following documents provide technical direction and describe the Structures Division goals, expectations, processes and procedures for performing structural and geotechnical work for the Department.

Bridge Management inspects, monitors, reports and effectively manages UDOT’s structure inventory using in service inspection data to measure the overall condition of each bridge and prioritize projects for the Bridge Programs.

Structures Design and Geotechnical Design provide structural and geotechnical engineering services, manage structure design and construction, and establish and maintain structural and geotechnical design criteria and standards to ensure a safe, economical and reliable transportation system.

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) Structures Division has cautiously chosen not to hold any face-to-face workshops. So instead, we are sharing a brief update on what we have been up to and what we are working on. Stay safe out there.

Links to the Manuals

Structures Division Quality Control/Quality Assurance (QC/QA) Procedures

The UDOT Structures QC/QA Procedures define the Structures Division’s expectations, processes, procedures and requirements for performing QC/QA of structural work. The procedures are a tool and cannot replace the sound judgment and experience of competent professionals. Implement the Structures QC/QA Procedures on all deliverables and according to the stages, activities and guidelines in the UDOT Structures Design and Detailing Manual (SDDM), the Geotechnical Manual of Instruction (GMOI), and the Project Delivery Network.

Structures QC/QA Procedures consist of five independent roles:

Design
QC check
QA audit
Reviews
Acceptance

Structures QC/QA Procedures – February 2015

Requests

The Structures Division maintains structure records for bridges and miscellaneous structures. The Structures Division is responsible for assigning and tracking unique Structure numbers and managing initial in service bridge inspections.

Use the following to facilitate structure specific requests:

Unique structure numbers are required for new bridges, replacement bridges, and state owned box culverts with a span as measured along the centerline of the roadway or an inside rise dimension of 10 feet or more.

Updated drawing numbers are required for the modification, preservation, or rehabilitation of existing bridge structures.

All structures over 20 feet in length (either newly constructed or rehabilitated) require an in service bridge inspection.

An in service inspection is required before opening a structure to traffic. If Structures Division schedules allow, the in service inspection may be scheduled to occur concurrently with the Substantial Completion walk through.

Findings at the in service inspection may delay opening of the structure to traffic. To avoid delays, ensure requests for in service inspection are requested far enough in advance to provide adequate time to correct any found deficiencies.

Existing Structure Plans and Reports

Existing structure plans and reports are available to local owners, consultants and contractors, and members of the general public. Different methods to request structure plans and reports are provided below:

Link	Description
Structure Plans and Reports Request Local Owner or Active Design Contract	For local owners and for active (awarded) design contracts to request as built plans and in service bridge inspection reports for existing bridges. If you are working on a bid or proposal, plans and reports must be requested through the UDOT contact for that project.
Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA) Request Include the structure number in your request. If you do not know the structure number, it can be found using the Structure Location Map provided below.	For members of the general public, not working on a bid/proposal, to request as built plans and in service bridge inspection reports for existing UDOT owned bridges. For members of the general public, not working on a bid/proposal, looking for information on a locally owned structure, please make your request through the local owner, and ask them to contact the individual listed on the following page: Contact Information – For Information on Locally Owned Structures.

Link

Description

Structure Plans and Reports Request

Local Owner or Active Design Contract

For local owners and for active (awarded) design contracts to request as built plans and in service bridge inspection reports for existing bridges.
If you are working on a bid or proposal, plans and reports must be requested through the UDOT contact for that project.

Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA) Request

Include the structure number in your request. If you do not know the structure number, it can be found using the Structure Location Map provided below.

For members of the general public, not working on a bid/proposal, to request as built plans and in service bridge inspection reports for existing UDOT owned bridges.
For members of the general public, not working on a bid/proposal, looking for information on a locally owned structure, please make your request through the local owner, and ask them to contact the individual listed on the following page: Contact Information – For Information on Locally Owned Structures.

Forms and Templates

Forms

The following forms are tools to support the requirements as specified in the BMM, SDDM, GMOI, and PDN. In order to view and print the following forms correctly and ensure use of the latest form, download the appropriate form before each use. All forms are to be completed electronically rather than with hand-written text. Include the appropriate signatures on the forms before submitting.

Procedure	Required Documentation
Quality Control (QC)
QC Check	Independent Technical Analysis Cover Sheet (ITA_COV) Updated October 6, 2017
QC cover sheets	Calculation Cover Sheet (CAL_COV) Updated October 6, 2017
	Computer Program Input Cover Sheet (COM_COV) Updated October 6, 2017
	Drawing Cover Sheet (DWG_COV) Updated October 6, 2017
	Project Document Cover Sheet (DOC_COV) Updated October 6, 2017
Quality Assurance (QA)
QA audit	Project QA Audit (AUD_QA) Updated October 6, 2017
Reviews
Structural Review	Structural Review Comment Resolution Form (STR_CRF) Updated October 6, 2017
Structures design reviewer / Structures oversight reviewer	Structural Review Completion – RFP Preparation and Review (Design Build) (RFP_REV) Updated October 6, 2017
	Structural Review Completion – Plan in Hand (Stage 3) Review (PIH_REV) Updated October 6, 2017
	Structural Review Completion – PS&E (Stage 4) Review (PSE_REV) Updated October 6, 2017
Acceptance
Structures Division acceptance	Structural RFP Acceptance (Design Build) (RFP_ACC) Updated October 6, 2017
	S&L Acceptance (3S6) (S&L_ACC) Updated October 6, 2017
	Final Structural Acceptance (5S1) (PSE_ACC) Updated October 6, 2017
	Structural Design Criteria Deviation Acceptance (DEV_ACC) Updated October 6, 2017
	Alternate QC/QA Procedures Acceptance (ALT_ACC) Updated October 6, 2017

Templates

The following templates are tools to support the requirements as specified in the BMM, SDDM, GMOI, and PDN.

Template	Purpose
General Templates
Structures Division Memo Updated June 25, 2020	Basic letterhead for Structures Division Memoranda
Project Templates
Structures Scope and Estimate Report Updated June 25, 2020	Defines the project scope and develops a preliminary cost estimate.
Geotechnical Literature Review and Site Reconnaissance Report Updated January 26, 2018	Summarizes existing geotechnical information and other related literature, and field reconnaissance findings.
Geotechnical Subsurface Exploration Plan Updated January 26, 2018	Defines plan for obtaining the necessary information to complete the geotechnical design.
Structure Foundation Recommendation Memo Updated January 26, 2018	Presents structure foundation alternatives and preliminary foundation recommendations.
Structure Type Selection Report Updated April 18, 2019	Documents the decision making process used in developing the design that will be carried forward into final design.
Seismic Design Strategy Report Updated June 18, 2020	Documents the structure seismic design approach.
Geotechnical Report Updated January 23, 2018	Provides geotechnical design and construction recommendations for a project, including the properties, assumptions and calculations used.
Communication Templates
Structural Design Criteria Deviation Request Updated June 15, 2015	Used to request approval for structural design criteria deviations before proceeding with design associated with the deviation.
Structural Documentation Email Updated May 3, 2015	Used to organize structural documentation package for submittal at 3S6 and 5S1 as indicated in the PDN.

Specifications and Special Provisions

Special Provisions

The following selection of Special Provisions have been developed by the Structures Division. Click here for a complete list of Specifications and Special Provisions and their supporting files.

Special Provision	M&P (if available)
Retaining Walls
02831S: MSE Retaining Walls – General Requirements Updated April 28, 2020	02831: M&P
02832S: MSE Backfill Updated April 28, 2020	—
02833S: Concrete Panel MSE Retaining Wall Updated April 28, 2020	—
02835S: Modular Block MSE Retaining Wall Updated April 28, 2020	—
02837S: Wire Face MSE Retaining Wall Updated April 28, 2020	—
02839S: Prefabricated Modular Gravity (PMG) Wall Updated April 28, 2020	02839: M&P
02862S: Modular Block Gravity Wall Updated April 28, 2020	02862: M&P
Fill Material
02334S: EPS Geofoam Fill Updated April 28, 2020	—
Concrete Preservation and Surface Treatments
03372S: Thin Bonded Polymer Overlay Updated July 15, 2020	—
03938S: Fiber Reinforced Polymer System Updated February 19, 2019	—
09982S: Anti-Graffiti Coating Updated August 28, 2017	—

Specification Support Files / Web References

The following selection of files correspond to documents referred to in Specifications. The files listed below are related to Specifications and Special Provisions owned by the Structures Division. Click here for a complete list of Specifications and Special Provisions and their supporting files.

Reference Specification	Support File / Web Reference
02455: Driven Piles	Pile Driving Record and Equipment Data
02466: Drilled Shafts	Drilled Shaft Construction Logs
02831S: MSE Retaining Walls – General Requirements	Approved Retaining Wall Systems
02839S: Prefabricated Modular Gravity (PMG) Walls	Approved Retaining Wall Systems
03934: Structural Pothole Patching	Structural Pothole Patching As-built Template (3.1 MB)
09972: Painting for Structural Steel	NEPCOAT list website link
09991: Cleaning and Repainting or Overcoating Structural Steel	NEPCOAT list website link

Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC) Information

Accelerated Bridge Construction (ABC) is common practice in Utah. The Structures Division has widely implemented the use of ABC. See below for a selection of Lessons Learned Reports and Project Highlights from some of our past ABC projects.

ABC design documents and supporting drawings have been incorporated into the Structures Design and Detailing Manual (SDDM) which consists of the Written Manual, Drawings, and Checklists. The SDDM references ABC decision making tools which are provided below.
For your convenience, hyperlinks are provided inside the drop down menu connecting to the locations where the referenced resources can be found.

ABC SDDM Resources

Resource	Description
Written Manual
Written Manual: Chapter 20	Chapter 20 of the SDDM Written manual specifically addresses ABC, providing information on the decision making process, ABC methods, and technical criteria.
Drawings
Working Standards (WS) define the form, function and requirements of commonly used plan sheets. The Working Standard identifies areas requiring engineer input by a blue note. The Working Standard sheet becomes part of the sealed plan set, and the EOR is responsible for all information on the Working Standard
WS-3	Prestressed girder shear stud and haunch details for full depth deck panels
Structures Design (SD) drawings are a design aid and list specific design requirements or details. Structures Design drawings are not plan sheets and are not included in plan sets.
SD-9 Series	Full depth precast concrete deck panel design guidance
SD-6 Series	Precast concrete substructure element design guidance
Sample sheets (SS) are examples of typical structure plan sheets and are used as a guide when preparing structure plan sets. They guide users and encourage consistency in presentation but do not depict specific requirements.
SS-14 Series	Precast concrete substructure sample sheets
SS-32 Series	Full depth precast concrete deck panel sample sheets
SS-33 Series	Precast concrete approach slab sample sheets
Checklists
Checklists are provided to assist in developing and evaluating projects and plans. Checklists are not all inclusive, but attempt to address basic requirements as well as common concerns.
ABC Heavylift Project Checklist	Heavy lift ABC projects include structures moved with SPMTs or similar equipment, lateral structure slides, structures trucked in and placed with cranes, and structures longitudinally launched.
Precast Elements Design and Detailing Checklist	Checklist for design and detailing of precast elements
Precast Elements Shop Drawing Review Checklist	Checklist for shop drawing review of precast elements

ABC Decision Making Tools

The ABC decision making process consists of two steps — completing the ABC rating procedure spreadsheet and then using the rating in the ABC decision flowchart to determine if an ABC approach is required.

ABC Rating Procedure Spreadsheet and Decision Flow Chart

Digital Delivery

Digital Delivery with Model Based Design and Construction (MBDC) is the use and transfer of digital data in design, construction, and asset management. Digital Delivery with MBDC is not solely intended to eliminate plan sheets but rather deliver data in more directly consumable formats for project stakeholders.

Go to the Digital Delivery page for more information on UDOT’s current Digital Delivery and MBDC efforts.

Structure Location Map

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COVID-19 Information

UDOT COVID-19 Tools & Resources

Other Helpful COVID-19 Links

UDOT