Section 6: General Notes Checklist
Make
sure that all notes required to supplement the specifications, Special
Provisions, and standards have been included. Notes should not conflict
with the plans or specifications.
- General Notes should only be used to supplement
the Standard Specifications, Special Provisions, Special Specifications,
and standards and are usually mentioned in the specifications and/or
standards. General Notes cannot be used to modify measurement and
payment articles. Changes to specifications must be done by submittal
of Special Provisions or Special Specifications to CST_RDWY_SPECS.
- Check the notes for clarity, grammatical
errors, and/or misspellings.
- Make sure all items appearing in the General
Notes are included on the Specification List.
- Make sure that any material or construction
methods notes specified are provided for by the specifications and
do not require Special Provisions.
- Make sure the descriptions of items in
the Basis of Estimate agree with the specification.
- Make sure all modified standards are listed
in the notes and index of sheets.
- If Item 504 has been included on the Specification
List, make sure that the type of facility required has been specified
by note.
- Check notes specifying minimum aggregate
class for surface aggregate.
- When manufacturer’s names are listed as
examples, always list at least two names plus the words “Or Equivalent,”
to be in compliance with FHWA directives regarding proprietary items.
- Any proprietary or sole source items included
in the notes or in the specifications must be justified. Prepare
and send a letter of public interest to the responsible Austin division.
- Make sure that all computer hardware and
software referenced in the notes or specifications are in compliance
with state law and TxDOT/FHWA policies.
- If state-furnished equipment or materials
are specified by note, a Public Interest Statement must be prepared
and submitted to the responsible Austin division.
- Check to make sure that there are no General
Notes included which establish contractor qualifications.
- Check to make sure that there are no General
Notes which imply legal responsibilities of the contractor regarding
traffic safety beyond the requirements of the Standard Specifications.
- Check to make sure that the “safety contingency”
note is included with Item 502.
- Standard workweek charges as defined by
Article 8.3.1.4 are assumed if there is not a note included to define
another working day schedule.
- In accordance with special provisions
007-009 and 007-010 all construction projects must include the note
“Roadway closures during the following key dates and/or special
events are prohibited:” with a list of events and/or dates that
road closures are prohibited under Item 7 of the General Notes.
If there are no expected road closures involving key dates / special
events, a note indicating “No significant traffic generator events
identified” must be included.
NOTE: “The Contractor Force Account ‘Safety Contingency’ that has been established for this project is intended to be utilized for work zone enhancements, to improve the effectiveness of the Traffic Control Plan, that could not be foreseen in the project planning and design stage. These enhancements will be mutually agreed upon by the Engineer and the Contractor’s Responsible Person based on weekly or more frequent traffic management reviews on the project. The Engineer may choose to use existing bid items if it does not slow the implementation of the enhancement.”