Chapter 1: Organizational Overview
Anchor: #BGBCDGACSection 1: This Manual
Anchor: #i1003313Overview
This manual was developed to provide bridge project developers/designers with the policies and guidelines set forth by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) regarding the following:
- bridge programming and funding
- preliminary planning of bridge structures
- preparation and review of bridge layouts
- preparation and review of plans, specifications, and estimates (PS&E) for bridge projects
This manual is subject to revision as conditions, experience, or research data warrant.
|
Version |
Publication Date |
Summary of Changes |
|---|---|---|
|
2001-1 |
October 2001 |
New manual; replaced Bridge Division’s Operations and Procedures Manual. |
|
2002-1 |
April 2002 |
Revision clarifying information on curbs, adding information on overhead sign supports, correcting minor errors, and adding hyperlinks to recently published TxDOT online manuals. |
|
2003-1 |
June 2003 |
Revision updating terminology related to Unified Transportation Program (UTP) categories, clarifying approach-roadway eligibility requirements for HBRRP, expanding structure design criteria to include Load Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) recommendations, expanding and clarifying preliminary layout requirements, and correcting minor editorial errors. |
|
2005-1 |
January 2005 |
Revision updating departmental organization information and correcting minor editorial errors. |
|
2006-1 |
February 2006 |
Revision changing the name of the federally funded Highway Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation Program to Highway Bridge Program, adding information on load and resistance factor design (LRFD), updating a procedure for appraising an existing structure, and adding an index to the manual. |
|
2007-1 |
July 2007 |
Revision updating departmental organization information in Chapter 1. Revising Chapter 3 to include the membership of the Roadway Design Exception Committee, the Bridge Design Exception Committee and a joint subcomittee, the Roadway/Bridge Design Exception Committee. Updating Chapter 4 to include the mandate by the Federal Highway Administration that Load Resistance Factor Design be used on all bridges for which preliminary engineering is initiated after October 2007. Correcting errors in the Chapter 5, Section 4 table on submission schedules and also correcting other minor editorial errors. |
|
2008-1 |
April 2008 |
Revision deleting references to the TxDOT Bridge Design Manual and inserting references to Load Resistance Factor Design bridge design. |
The manual is not a substitute for engineering experience, knowledge, or judgment. Special situations may call for variation from these policy requirements.
Anchor: #i1004032Manual Organization
The manual is organized to reflect the chronology of a bridge project from bridge funding to PS&E:
- Chapter 1 identifies departmental organizations that may be involved in bridge project development.
- Chapter 2 presents bridge programming and funding policies, focusing on the factors involved with the funding and prioritizing, or programming, of bridge projects.
- Chapter 3 identifies basic considerations during advanced planning of bridge projects, including general and location specific planning considerations.
- Chapter 4 presents preliminary design features required during early design development for general practice and location-specific requirements to aid planners/designers in preparing an appropriate preliminary design.
- Chapter 5 describes preliminary layout requirements and the approval process.
- Chapter 6 discusses the specific requirements of PS&E concerning bridge projects.
Feedback
Direct any questions or comments on the content of this manual to the Director of the Bridge Division, Texas Department of Transportation.