Structures & Geotechnical Guidance and Manuals

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.
Links to the Manuals
Structures Division Quality Control/Quality Assurance (QC/QA) Procedures
- Design
- QC check
- QA audit
- Reviews
- Acceptance
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
Link | Description |
---|---|
Structure Plans and Reports Request
Local Owner or Active Design Contract |
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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. |
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Forms and Templates
Forms
Templates
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 Recommendations 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 January 4, 2023 |
Used to organize structural documentation package for submittal at 3S6 and 5S1 as indicated in the PDN. |
Specifications and Special Provisions
Special Provisions
The special provisions below represent the current versions of these specifications and are to be included in any project that incorporates the associated work.
Some of the listed items have been passed by the Standards Committee for incorporation into an upcoming Standard Specification book. For those specifications, the listing shows the committee session and the book year that the specification is anticipated as becoming standard.
The special provision below should be incorporated into projects that use a standard book dated before the one shown.
Special Provision | Standard Book | M&P |
---|---|---|
Geotechnical | ||
02332S: Lightweight Aggregate Borrow
Updated August 1, 2022 Passed June 2022 Standards Committee |
2024 | — |
02457S: Prefabricated Vertical Drains
Updated August 1, 2022 Passed June 2022 Standards Committee |
2024 | — |
Concrete Preservation and Surface Treatments | ||
09982S: Anti-Graffiti Coating
Updated August 28, 2017 |
— | — | Steel |
05125S: Prefabricated Steel Truss Bridge
Updated August 1, 2022 Passed June 2022 Standards Committee 2024 |
— |
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Specification Support Files / Web References
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 |
MSE Wall Pay Factor Spreadsheet (1.1MB) | |
MSE Wall Construction Checklist | |
02839S: Prefabricated Modular Gravity (PMG) Walls | Approved Retaining Wall Systems |
03934: Structural Pothole Patching | Structural Pothole Patching As-built Template (150 kB) |
03372: Thin Bonded Polymer Overlay | CSP Examples Document |
09972: Painting for Structural Steel | NEPCOAT list website link |
09991: Cleaning and Repainting or Overcoating Structural Steel | NEPCOAT list website link |
Unpublished Special Provisions
If any of these specifications apply to a project in design, click here to fill out the Structures Special Provision Request Form to obtain a current copy and a description of that specification’s current level of development.
Geotechnical Special Provisions
- Geofoam Wall
- Geotechnical Instrumentation
- Lightweight Aggregate Borrow
- Lightweight Cellular Concrete
- Micropiles
- Monitoring Settlement for Adjacent Structures
- Preconstruction Survey
- Prefabricated vertical (wick) drains
- Surcharge
- Temporary Retaining Wall
- Vibration Control During Construction
Structures Special Provisions
- Approach Slab Catch Basin Modification
- Approach Slab Deep Soil Stabilization
- Deck Scarification
- Fall Protection System
- Heat Straightening and Repair of Damaged Structural Steel
- High Load Multi-Rotational Bearings
- Hydrodemolition
- Polyester Concrete Overlay
- Polymer Injection for Filling Voids
- Prestressing Strand Repair
- Repair Metal Bridge Rail
- Replacement Bridge Railing
- Structure Number Modification
- Temporary Bridge
- Ultra High Performance Concrete (UHPC)
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 Inventory Lessons Learned Inspection Reports
October 2019
2016 ABC Lessons Learned Inspection Report
August 2016
2013 ABC Lessons Learned Inspection Report
October 2013
2011 ABC Lessons Learned Inspection Report
September 2011
2010 ABC Lessons Learned Inspection Report
June 2010
2009 ABC Lessons Learned Inspection Report
May 2009
ABC Project Lessons Learned Reports
July 2014
4500 South over I-215 Lessons Learned Report
January 2008
Hoytsville Rd over I-80 Lessons Learned after PSE
November 2003
Hoytsville Rs over I-80 Lessons Learned after Construction
October 2004
800 North Lessons Learned Report
January 2007
3760 S – 3900 S at I-215 Lessons Learned Report
June 2005
ABC Project Highlights
2011 – I-15; Sam White Lane over I-15
2011 – I-15; Provo Center Street over I-15
2011 – I-15; 200 South Bridge over I-15
2011 – I-15; Proctor Lane over I-15
2011 – I-80; EB-WB over Weber River at Echo Junction
2011 – I-80; Summit Park Bridge
2011 – I-80; Eastbound Structure #2C-326 at Atkinson Canyon
2010 – Hinkley Drive to SR-108
2010 – I-15; South Layton Interchange
2010 – I-15; Widening 500 N to I-215
2010 – I-70; Eagle Canyon Bridge
2010 – US-6; Tucker MP 203 to 204
2009 – 11400 South; State St. to Bangerter HWY; New I-15 Interchange
2009 – I-15 Bridge Deck Replacements; Payson
2009 – I-80; 2300 East Bridge
2009 – I-80; Two Bridges Near Echo Junction
2009 – Pioneer Crossing, Lehi
2009 – SR-66; over Weber River in Morgan City
2009 – US-6; MP 218.7 to Emma Park Road
2008 – 3300 South over I-215 East
2008 – I-80; Mountain Dell to Lambs Canyon
2008 – Riverdale Road; I-15 to Washington Blvd
2008 – US-6; MP 200 Bridge Replacement
2007 – I-215; 4500 S. Bridge Replacement CMGC Process Report
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
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.