I've been asked by a local contractor to provide staking estimates for 2 TxDOT projects. They are both fairly small projects.
So I go to the TxDOT online plans to have a look.
First off, they are all .tif images.....individual sheets. Bummer. Now, after having slowly clicking through these things, it is apparent that they are going with a new sort if "minimalist" approach for creating construction plans. I will spend all day trying to put some numbers on this, and MAY get it done.
You want to know about traffic control, signage, illumination? Plenty of that in there.
Want to stake the proposed roadway? Good luck with that.
If it weren't for such a good client, I'd be tempted to just turn it down. I really wish they had someone with a little survey knowledge to provide some input on these things.
Robby, Why not contact someone in the relevant TXDot office and see if they will provide print outs of the CL profile, cross sections, etc.
Most DOT employees are happy to help.
Scott
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> Most DOT employees are happy to help.
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I don't work in Texas, but that sure is a good one Scott.
You pulled a "funny" there.:clap:
Not to worry-they'll probably have you put the "Survey Party Ahead" signs halfway into the next County if TexDOT is anything like Caltrans!
Sometimes it takes so long to get from the sign to the work site that I have completely forgotten about the work that is supposedly on the road.
I've also noticed some joker putting up orange protest signs "END ROAD WORK". You know ending all road work would put a lot of people out of work so I don't think it's such a good idea.
http://www.dot.state.tx.us/business/plansonline/agreement.htm
Go to the above site and agree with the terms and conditions by clicking "I agree"
and on the next page "click here"
The next page you will most likely click on the folder "state let construction". It may be a maintenance project but most are construction. Then the month the project was bid. Then "contract plans". Look for the county and then the CSJ number. These are PDF files with the entire plan set in one file instead of the single tiff files. If you don't know the csj number you can open the file and look at the front page to get the road number. June 2010 has two jobs in Lubbock County.
Many of the jobs we have been doing have no control, no survey, no centerline, no profile. Welcome to my world. Email me if there are any questions I might can answer.
James
If it is the two jobs in the June letting, I highly recommend getting a copy of the plan and profile from the archives for when the roads were originally built. It will have a lot more information than the new plans are providing.
Loop 289 and Sllliiiiiddddeee Rrroooaaaddd. Sorry, having flashbacks to a commercial on TV when I was a kid.
"Most DOT employees are happy to help."
Yeah, I got a good chuckle out of that one too.
James, the old Don Crow Chevrolet advertisement! That's pretty good!
I'll try your idea. Thanks for the suggestions!
My memory of TxDot plans is that they give the layout and final grades of the pavement center line. The plans will show cross slopes and vertical curve details and subgrade depths, etc.
We had to compute all other grades from these details on the plans.
That must've been back before the budget debacle. It appears they now allow very little time for plan composition.
Thinking back, TxDot supplied a booklet of the details that was not part of the plans. It was a computer printout from design section.
I agree, unless you are provided with one of these new "models" package from TxDot that gives a 3d version, you may spend alot of time in the inspectors station asking what is what.
