Standard Specifications for Road, Bridge, and Municipal Construction 2020 (M 41-10)

Roadway Excavation and Embankment

2-03

2-03.3(14)K

Select or Common Borrow Including Haul

When required by the Plans or the Engineer, the Contractor shall use select borrow
meeting the requirements of

Section 9-03.14(2)

, or common borrow meeting the

requirements of

Section 9-03.14(3)

to:

1.  Build embankments.
2.  Backfill excavation of unsuitable foundation material above the ground water table.
3.  Backfill below-grade excavation above the ground water table.

Where specified, select borrow may be used for constructing reinforced slopes.

Select borrow and common borrow shall be compacted according to Sections

2-03.3(14)C

and

2-03.3(14)D

2-03.3(14)L

Embankment Widening for Guardrail

Embankments widened for the installation of beam guardrail shall be terraced in
accordance with the requirements for hillside terraces in

Section 2-03.3(14)

. Compaction

shall be in accordance with Method A, as specified in

Section 2-03.3(14)C

. Guardrail posts

shall not be installed until the embankment widening is completed and compacted.

2-03.3(14)M Excavation of Channels and Ditches

Channel Excavation includes open excavations 8 feet wide or more at the bottom, but
excludes channels that are part of the Roadway.

Ditch Excavation includes open excavations less than 8 feet wide at the bottom, but
excludes ditches that are part of the Roadway.

Before excavating channels or ditches, the Contractor shall clear and grub the area in
accordance with

Section 2-01

2-03.3(15) Aeration

The Contracting Agency may include aeration as a Contract item if material from test
holes in excavation or borrow sites is too wet to compact properly. Even if the Contract
includes such an item, the Contractor shall make every effort to reduce the need
for aeration. The Contractor shall do so by using methods known to be effective in
building embankments with wet materials. Such methods include open ditching to drain
excavation areas or alternating layers of wet and dry materials. These and similar methods
will be incidental to excavation and their costs shall be included in the unit Contract price
for Roadway excavation, for borrow excavation (including haul), and for haul.

If aeration is not a Contract item, its cost shall be incidental to and included in the
excavation and embankment items.

Page 2-24

Roadway Excavation and Embankment

Aeration Equipment – The Engineer may direct the Contractor to use aeration equipment
in these areas: Roadway excavation, borrow sites, or embankments. The Contracting
Agency does not guarantee the moisture-reducing effectiveness of any single type of
equipment. The Engineer may, however, require the use of any type that will best aerate a
given area.

If the Contractor uses any of the following types of equipment, it shall meet these
minimum requirements:
1. Heavy-Duty Power Grader – This machine shall have a moldboard measuring 12 feet

long, 24 inches high, and ¾ inch thick. Each grader shall carry its maximum number
of standard scarifier-rippers or discs.

2. Heavy-Duty Gang Plow – It shall have at least five 16-inch bottoms. Its tractor shall

be able to move no less than 1½ mph while plowing at least 9 inches deep through
fairly wet material.

3. Heavy-Duty Tandem Discs – This machine shall cut a swath at least 8 feet wide with

discs no less than 28 inches in diameter. Its tractor shall be able to turn fairly wet
material at least 6 inches deep while moving at 2 mph or more.

4. Heavy-Duty Self-Propelled, Rotary Pulverizer – This machine shall have paddles

attached to a transverse shaft. It shall travel 1½ mph or more while aerating a swath
at least 6 feet wide to a depth of 6 inches.

The Contractor shall not use any aerating equipment listed above in tandem nor use any
of this equipment to carry out other Bid items of Work while aerating.

The Engineer may halt aerating Work when weather conditions prevent satisfactory
results.

2-03.3(16) End Slopes

The Engineer will determine when and where to build end slopes, whether these occur at
the beginning or end of a project, at the borders of excavation or embankments, at bridge
ends, or elsewhere. The Contractor shall build end slopes not detailed in the Plans to the
line and grade designated by the Engineer regardless of centerline limits shown in the
Plans. All Work to complete and maintain these end slopes shall be considered as Work to
be performed under the Contract.

2-03.3(17) Snow Removal

If snow deep enough to interfere with the Work covers a cut or an embankment, the
Contractor shall remove and deposit it outside the slope stakes. Snow removal must be
done at least 100 feet ahead of excavation and embankment Work. The Contractor shall
remove snow at no expense to the Contracting Agency.

Roadway Excavation and Embankment

2-03

2-03.3(18) Stepped Slope Construction

When the Plans or the Engineer requires it, the Contractor shall shape slopes cut in soft
rock to a stepped pattern conforming closely to the typical cross-section in the Plans.
Stepped slopes shall meet these requirements:
1. Each step shall be 1 to 2 feet high.
2. The horizontal depth of each step will depend on its relationship to the staked slope

ratio. The approximate midpoint of each horizontal tread shall occur on the staked
slope line.

3. The treads shall be approximately level in all directions.
4. The ends of the steps shall be blended into the natural ground, with loose material

removed from transitional areas.

5. If the Contractor cannot rip a rock outcropping within a cut, the steps shall be

blended into the rock.

6. Large rocks and material that may fall into the ditch line or onto the Roadway shall

be removed, but scaling is not required.

The compaction and seeding requirements of

Section 8-01.3(2)

shall not apply to stepped

slope construction.

The Contracting Agency will measure stepped slope excavation by the area defined by
the staked slope line. The unit Contract price per cubic yard for Roadway or borrow
excavation shall be full pay for all labor and equipment required to build stepped slopes.

2-03.3(19) Removal of Pavement, Sidewalks, Curbs, and Gutters

The requirements of

Section 2-02.3(3)

shall also apply when pavements, sidewalks, curbs,

and gutters lie within an excavation.

2-03.4 Measurement

Roadway excavation, channel excavation, ditch excavation, unsuitable foundation
excavation, and common borrow items will be measured by the cubic yard. All excavated
material will be measured in the position it occupied before the excavation was
performed. An original ground measurement will be taken using cross-section or digital
terrain modeling survey techniques. For Roadway excavation, channel excavation, and
ditch excavation items, the original ground will be compared with the planned finished
section shown in the Plans. Slope/ground intercept points defining the limits of the
measurement will be as staked. For unsuitable foundation excavation and common
borrow items, the original ground will be compared with a survey of the excavation area
taken after the Work is completed. When the Contracting Agency requires excavated
material to be stockpiled, re-excavated and moved again, a second measurement will
be made, adding quantity for the same item used in the original excavation. The second
measurement will be a comparison of the original cross-section of the stockpile with a
cross-section of the stockpile area after the second excavation is completed.

Page 2-26

Roadway Excavation and Embankment

If the excavation item does not include Haul, then the measurement provisions of

Section 2-04

shall apply.

Gravel borrow and select borrow will be measured by the cubic yard or ton. Measurement
by cubic yard will be made in the hauling vehicle.

Sand drainage blanket will be measured by the ton with deductions made for the weight
of moisture above 8 percent.

Embankment compaction (Methods B and C in

Section 2-03.3(14)C

) will be measured

by the cubic yard. An original ground measurement will be taken using cross-section
or digital terrain modeling survey techniques. Quantities will be determined based on a
comparison of the original ground measurement with the finished embankment section
as staked. No allowance will be made for material that settles. No deduction will be taken
for other items constructed within the embankment (bridge abutments, piers, columns,
backfill, pipes, etc.). The Contracting Agency will exclude from compaction measurement
material that is wasted or placed under water and not compacted in layers as provided by
Sections

2-03.3(14)A

and

2-03.3(14)C

. In cuts, where excavation has been made below

the planned Subgrade elevation, and in fills where excavation has been made below
original ground, compaction will be measured by the cubic yard in the cross-section of
compacted backfill material. When material below grade in cuts or in original ground
beneath fills is scarified and recompacted, embankment compaction will be measured
by its compacted depth, up to a maximum of 6 inches. There is no specific unit of
measure and no measurement will be made for method A compaction as described in

Section 2-03.3(14)C

Controlled blasting of rock face will be measured by the linear foot of hole drilled. Holes
will be measured from the top of the rock surface to the elevation of the Roadway ditch
or to a bench elevation set by the Engineer. Quantities shown in the Plans are based on
30-inch hole spacing. Actual quantities will depend on field conditions and results from
test sections.

Prefabricated vertical drains will be measured by the linear foot. Trial drains will be
measured and included in the payment quantity for the prefabricated vertical drains. The
drains will be measured from the top of the working platform to the bottom of each hole.

2-03.5 Payment

Payment will be made for each of the following Bid items that are included in the
Proposal:

“Roadway Excavation”, per cubic yard.
“Roadway Excavation Incl. Haul”, per cubic yard.
“Roadway Excavation – Area ____”, per cubic yard.
“Roadway Excavation Incl. Haul – Area ____”, per cubic yard.
“Channel Excavation”, per cubic yard.
“Channel Excavation Incl. Haul”, per cubic yard.

Roadway Excavation and Embankment

2-03

“Ditch Excavation”, per cubic yard.
“Ditch Excavation Incl. Haul”, per cubic yard.
The unit Contract price per cubic yard for “Roadway Excavation”, “Roadway
Excavation Incl. Haul”, “Roadway Excavation – Area __”, “Roadway Excavation Incl.
Haul – Area ___”, “Channel Excavation”, “Channel Excavation Incl. Haul”, “Ditch
Excavation”, and “Ditch Excavation Incl. Haul” shall be full compensation for all costs
incurred for excavating, loading, placing, or otherwise disposing of the material.
For “Haul”, the unit Contract price as provided in

Section 2-04

shall apply, except

when the pay item is shown as including Haul. In that case the unit Contract price
per cubic yard shall include “Haul”. When a bid item is not included in the proposal
for channel excavation or ditch excavation, all costs shall be included in roadway
excavation.
When the Engineer orders Work according to

Section 2-03.3(3)

, unit Contract prices

shall apply unless the Work differs materially from the excavation above Subgrade,
then payment will be in accordance with

Section 1-04.4

“Unsuitable Foundation Excavation”, per cubic yard.
“Unsuitable Foundation Excavation Incl. Haul”, per cubic yard.
The unit Contract price per cubic yard for “Unsuitable Foundation Excavation” and
“Unsuitable Foundation Excavation Incl. Haul” shall be full payment for all costs
incurred for excavating, loading, and disposing of the material. For “Haul”, the unit
Contract price as provided in

Section 2-04

shall apply, except when the Bid item is

shown as including Haul. In that case, the unit Contract price per cubic yard shall
include “Haul”.
“Common Borrow Incl. Haul”, per cubic yard.
The unit Contract price per cubic yard for “Common Borrow Incl. Haul” shall be
full compensation for all costs incurred for excavating, loading, hauling, placing,
or otherwise disposing of the material. The unit Contract price includes removing,
disposing of, wasting, or stockpiling any material in the borrow site that does not
meet the Specifications for “Common Borrow”.
“Select Borrow Incl. Haul”, per ton.
“Select Borrow Incl. Haul”, per cubic yard.
“Gravel Borrow Incl. Haul”, per ton.
“Gravel Borrow Incl. Haul”, per cubic yard.
“Sand Drainage Blanket”, per ton.
The unit Contract price per ton or cubic yard for “Select Borrow Incl. Haul”, “Gravel
Borrow Incl. Haul” and “Sand Drainage Blanket” shall be full compensation for all
costs incurred for excavating, loading, hauling, and placing the material unless
otherwise specified in the Proposal.
“Embankment Compaction”, per cubic yard.

Page 2-28

Roadway Excavation and Embankment

The unit Contract price per cubic yard for “Embankment Compaction” shall be full
compensation for all costs incurred for all material, labor, tools, equipment, and
incidentals required.
When embankments are constructed using Method A compaction, payment
for embankment compaction will not be made as a separate item. All costs for
embankment compaction shall be included in other Bid items involved.
If the Bid item “Embankment Compaction” is not provided in the Proposal,
compensation for costs incurred to perform the Work described in

Section

2-03.3(14)

, Embankment Construction, shall be included in payment for other items

of Work in the Contract.
“Aeration”, by force account.
“Aeration” will be paid for by force account as specified in

Section 1-09.6

The payment for aeration and other related unit Contract prices shall be full
compensation for all costs incurred to perform the Work described in

Section

2-03.3(15)

. Should the Contractor fail to seal an aerated area prior to inclement

weather, additional aeration to restore the area to its previous condition shall be at
the Contractor’s expense.
For the purpose of providing a common Proposal for all Bidders, the Contracting
Agency has entered an amount in the Proposal to become a part of the total Bid by
the Contractor.
“Controlled Blasting of Rock Face”, per linear foot.
The unit Contract price per linear foot for “Controlled Blasting of Rock Face” shall
be full compensation for all costs incurred to perform the Work described in

Section 2-03.3(2)

. Measurement and payment for Roadway excavation and haul

related to blasting shall be as provided under those items in this section and shall
include the volume of material excavated from the benches or setbacks approved for
drilling separate lifts.
“Prefabricated Vertical Drain”, per linear foot.
The unit Contract price per linear foot shall be full compensation for all
costs incurred to perform the Work, including trial drains, as described in

Section 2-03.3(14)H

Haul 2-04

2-04 Haul

2-04.1 Description

This Work consists of transporting excavated material from its original site to its final
place in the Work.

The balance points shown in the Plans are only approximate. The Engineer may change
the balance points to help equalize quantities of materials or to dispose of surpluses.

When the Plans require hauling, the Contractor shall not substitute wasting or borrowing.
The Contracting Agency will not pay extra for cross-hauling unless the Engineer so orders.

2-04.2 Vacant
2-04.3 Vacant
2-04.4 Measurement

The Contracting Agency will measure haul in units of haul where one unit equals
100-cubic yards of excavated material hauled 100 feet.

Excavated material will be measured in its original position. The Engineer will provide a
copy of the location mass diagram upon request.

Haul On Right of Way – To compute units of haul, the Contracting Agency will measure
haul distance parallel to the centerline (or base line) of the Highway. Lateral distance
(cross-hauling) will not be measured.

Quantities to be measured in this way include: (1) material from the Roadway prism
or prisms; (2) borrow from widened cuts; (3) waste deposited in the Right of Way
or alongside it; and (4) material from Auxiliary Lanes – Frontage Roads, speed change
lanes, paralleling and loop ramps, cross roads, and other lanes that supplement through-
traffic movements.

If the Plans show more than one centerline or base line (as in a multi-lane Highway), the
Plans or Special Provisions will describe the line by which haul will be computed.

Waste Haul Off Right of Way – The Contracting Agency will measure the cross-section
and length of any waste embankment to calculate waste quantities. If the Plans or Special
Provisions do not specify a haul route, the Contracting Agency will compute haul along
the long axis of the waste embankment, thence along a line running perpendicular to the
Highway center line, starting at the center line and ending at the nearest end of the waste
embankment.

However, when a route is specified, haul distance will be measured along that route.
If the Contractor chooses to use a route shorter than that computed or specified, the
Contracting Agency will base payment on the length of the route actually used.

Page 2-32

Subgrade Preparation

2-06

Subgrade Preparation

2-06.1 Description

This Work consists of preparing graded Roadbed for surfacing or surfaced Roadbed for
paving.

2-06.2 Vacant
2-06.3

Construction Requirements

2-06.3(1) Subgrade for Surfacing

In preparing the Roadbed for surfacing, the Contractor shall:
1. Remove from the Roadbed, immediately before placing surfacing materials, all brush,

weeds, vegetation, grass, and other debris.

2.  Dispose of all debris as the Engineer directs.
3.  Drain water from all low spots or ruts.
4.  Shape the entire Subgrade to a uniform surface running reasonably true to the line,

grade, and cross-section as staked.

5. If necessary, the Contractor shall process the Subgrade in cut areas to remove

materials too coarse for mechanical trimming and recompaction.

6. Compact the Subgrade to a depth of 6 inches. Compaction shall achieve 95 percent

of the maximum density determined under the tests described in

Section

2-03.3(14)D

. If the underlying material is too soft to permit proper compaction of

the Subgrade, the Contractor shall loosen, aerate (or excavate and remove), and
compact the Subgrade until the top layer can be compacted as required.

7. Remove excess material that does not drift to low spots during grading and shaping.

The Contractor shall dispose of this excess by placing it where the Subgrade lacks
material or by wasting it, as the Engineer directs.

8. Add materials as the Engineer directs where the Subgrade needs more to bring it up

to grade. The Contractor shall water and compact these added materials as needed
to produce a true finished Subgrade.

If the Contract requires a trimming machine, it shall:
1. Maintain the grade and transverse slopes automatically through sensors that

respond to reference lines on both edges of each Roadway.

2. Create a smooth, uniform surface free from chatter and ripples.

Subgrade Preparation

2-06

2-06.3(2) Subgrade for Pavement

Before any paving is placed, the Contractor shall bring the Subgrade to the required
line, grade, and cross-section. The Contractor shall compact the Subgrade to a depth of
6 inches to 95 percent of maximum density as determined by the compaction control
tests for granular materials. The compacted area shall be wide enough to let paving
machines operate without visible distortion of surfacing material.

The Contractor shall maintain the Subgrade in the required condition until the pavement
is placed. The Contractor may remove material just before paving if the Plans require
thicker areas of pavement.

2-06.4 Vacant
2-06.5

Measurement and Payment

2-06.5(1) Subgrade Constructed Under Same Contract

Surfacing or Treated Base – If the Contractor builds a Subgrade for surfacing or
treated base, the Contracting Agency will consider Subgrade preparation as part of the
construction Work. In this case, measurement and payment will conform to

Section 2-03

Such payment shall be the full price for all Subgrade preparation Work.

Pavement – If the Contractor builds a Subgrade for pavement, the Contracting Agency
will follow the criteria in

Section 5-04

(for HMA pavement) or

Section 5-05

(for cement

concrete pavement) to measure and pay for materials used to prepare the Subgrade.
The Contracting Agency will measure and pay for water as specified in

Section 2-07

2-06.5(2) Subgrade Not Constructed Under Same Contract

When the Contractor prepares an existing Subgrade for surfacing (one not built under
the present Contract), the Contracting Agency will measure and pay for the Work by
these criteria:
1. Final Conditioning – All the following Work on the Subgrade shall be included

in other Contract Bid items: clearing vegetation and other debris, draining water,
smoothing to prepare for staking, grading, shaping, and compacting to a 6-inch depth
to final line, grade, and cross-section.

2. Excess Materials – If the Contractor must dispose of excess materials during grading

and shaping, the Contracting Agency will measure and pay for the Work as Roadway
excavation. If the Contract includes no pay item for Roadway excavation, the
Contracting Agency will measure and pay as provided in

Section 1-04.4

3. Added Materials – If the Subgrade requires more materials, the Contracting Agency

will pay the unit Contract price for each kind of material the Contractor provides.
The unit Contract price shall be full pay for furnishing, placing, and compacting
the materials. When unit Contract prices do not apply, the Contracting Agency will
measure and pay for the Work as provided in

Section 1-04.4

Page 2-34

Subgrade Preparation

4. Excavation and Backfill – If the Engineer orders the Contractor to excavate unstable

spots in the Subgrade, the Contracting Agency will measure and pay for the Work as
Roadway excavation. If the Contract does not include Roadway excavation as a pay
item, payment will be by agreed price or force account. The Contracting Agency will
pay unit Contract prices for suitable backfill material when included in the Contract
and will pay as provided in

Section 1-04.4

when not included.

5. Subgrade Protection – No payment shall be made for protecting the Subgrade.

Watering 2-07

2-07 Watering

2-07.1 Description

This Work consists of furnishing, hauling, and applying water for compacting
embankments, constructing Subgrade, placing of crushed surfacing, dust control,
and as the Engineer requires.

2-07.2 Vacant
2-07.3

Construction Requirements

The Contractor shall apply water by means of tank trucks equipped with spray bars.
Spray controls shall ensure that the water flows evenly and in the amounts required
by the Engineer. The Engineer may direct that the Contractor apply water at night or early
in the morning to reduce evaporation losses.

2-07.4 Measurement

Water will be measured by the gallon using tanks or tank trucks of known capacity
or by meters approved by the Engineer. The Contractor shall supply and install any
meters at no expense to the Contracting Agency.

2-07.5 Payment

Payment will be made for the following Bid item when it is included in the Proposal:

“Water”, per M gal.
The unit Contract price per M gallon for “Water” shall be full pay for all labor,
materials, tools, and equipment necessary to furnish, haul, and apply the water.

When the Contract does not include water as a pay item, providing and applying the
water shall be incidental to construction. All costs shall be included in the other Contract
pay items.

Structure Excavation

2-09

Structure Excavation

2-09.1 Description

Structure excavation consists of excavating and disposing of all natural material or
man-made objects that must be removed to make way for bridge foundations, retaining
walls, culverts, trenches for pipelines, conduits, and other Structures as shown in
the Plans.

This Work also includes, unless the Contract provides otherwise, removing whole or
partial Structures, grubbing Structure sites that would not otherwise be grubbed, building
and later removing shoring, cofferdams, or caissons, pumping or draining excavated areas,
protecting excavated materials from the weather, and placing and compacting backfill.

2-09.2 Materials

Materials shall meet the requirements of the following sections:
Cement

9-01

Fine Aggregate for Concrete

9-03.1(2)

Admixture for Concrete

9-23.6

Fly Ash

9-23.9

Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag

9-23.10

Water

9-25

2-09.3

Construction Requirements

2-09.3(1) General Requirements

All Structure excavation, trenching, and shoring shall be performed in strict compliance
with

WAC 296-155

as well as all other applicable local, Contracting Agency, and Federal

laws and regulations.

2-09.3(1)A

Staking, Cross-Sectioning, and Inspecting

The Contractor shall not begin excavating until after the stakes have been set to locate
and/or outline the Structure and taken cross-sections to determine how much material to
remove. The Engineer will occasionally inspect material taken from and material remaining
in the excavation.

2-09.3(1)B

Depth of Excavation

The Contractor shall excavate foundation pits to the depth the Plans require, or to any
revised depth ordered by the Engineer.

Page 2-38

Structure Excavation

2-09.3(1)C

Removal of Unstable Base Material

When the material at the bottom of an excavation is not stable enough to support the
Structure, the Contractor shall excavate below grade and replace the unstable material
with gravel backfill.

Gravel backfill shall meet the requirements of

Section 9-03.12

. It shall be placed in layers

not more than 6 inches thick with each layer compacted to 95 percent of the maximum
density determined by the Compaction Control Test,

Section 2-03.3(14)D

2-09.3(1)D

Disposal of Excavated Material

The Engineer may direct the Contractor to dispose of excavated material in embankments,
backfills, or remove it from the site.

All costs for disposing of excavated material within the project limits shall be included in
the unit Contract price for Structure excavation, Class A or B. If, however, the Contractor
must load and haul the material to a disposal site, the Contracting Agency will pay as
provided in

Section 1-04.4

for loading and hauling. The Contracting Agency will not

pay for handling at the disposal site. Any such disposal shall meet the requirements of

Section 2-03.3(7)C

If the Contract includes Structure excavation, Class A or B, including haul, the unit
Contract price shall include all costs for loading and hauling the material the full
required distance.

2-09.3(1)E Backfilling

The backfilling of openings dug for Structures shall be a necessary part of and incidental
to the excavation. Unless the Engineer directs otherwise, backfill material shall be nonclay
material containing no pieces more than 3 inches across, no frozen lumps, and no wood or
other foreign material.

When specified in the Contract or when approved by the Engineer, the Contractor shall
supply controlled density fill as backfill material.

Alternative Sources. When material from Structure excavation is unsuitable for use as
backfill, the Engineer may require the Contractor to:
1. Use other material covered by the Contract if such substitution involves Work that

does not differ materially from what would otherwise have been required,

2. Substitute selected material in accordance with

Section 2-03.3(10)

3. Use Controlled Density Fill (CDF) also known as Controlled Low Strength Material

(CLSM)), or

4. Obtain material elsewhere. Material obtained elsewhere will be paid for in

accordance with

Section 1-04.4

Standard Specifications for Road, Bridge, and Municipal Construction 2020 (M 41-10) - page 26