Construction Manual

The Construction Manual contains policies and procedures related to the duties of Caltrans Division of Construction personnel, is for information only, and is intended as a resource for personnel engaged in contract administration.

Be alert for new or revised specifications that may affect the current manual guidance for contract administration. As specifications, practices, procedures, and policies change, the Division of Construction will issue updated Construction Manual sections. The dates in the right-hand column of the list of sections reflect the publication date of the most recent revision.

Revisions will be made to the manual and announced in a Manual Change Transmittal (MCT). MCTs provide a summary of manual changes followed by the updated section with lines in the margin to indicate changes. When MCTs are issued, the updated sections will be added to the Construction Manual full download as soon as possible. Section footer dates are also changed to match the month the MCT was issued.

Construction Procedure Directive (CPD) memorandums also are issued to clarify information already contained in the manual, introduce a process change, remind readers of existing policy, announce a new form, or inform the reader of a change in address or contact.

We encourage use of the online version of the full manual or individual sections for the most current Division of Construction guidance and electronic search capabilities. Individual sections or the complete download can be printed. It is the manual holder's responsibility to use the most recent editions.

Please sign up at Construction-Manual-Updates-Announcement list serve if you would like to receive email alerts when updated sections, MCTs, construction procedure directives, and forms are posted online.

 

Construction Manual Combined Sections (PDF)

If you have any questions about the Construction Manual, please contact: Construction.Publications@dot.ca.gov.

Chapter Subject Current Manual Section
Chapter 1 - Caltrans Construction Organization

1-0 Construction Manual Overview

September 2020

1-1 Construction Organization

July 2019

1-2 Public Relations

February 2022

1-3 Personnel Development

July 2019

1-4 Facilities and Equipment

June 2021
1-5 Field Expenses and Purchases July 2019
Chapter 2 - Safety and Traffic 2-1 Safety June 2023
2-2 Traffic May 2022
2-3 Major Construction Incidents November 2019
Chapter 3 - General Provisions 3-0 Introduction July 2019
3-1 General July 2019
3-2 Bidding July 2019
3-3 Contract Award and Execution July 2019
3-4 Scope of Work July 2021
3-5 Control of Work August 2023
3-6 Control of Materials July 2023
3-7 Legal Relations and Responsibility to the Public December 2020
3-8 Prosecution and Progress March 2022
3-9 Payment March 2024
Chapter 4 - Construction Details 4-0 Introduction July 2019
4-10 General Construction July 2019
4-11 Welding October 2020
4-12 Temporary Traffic Control February 2021
4-15 Existing Facilities July 2019
4-16 Temporary Facilities July 2019
4-17 Clearing and Grubbing July 2019
4-18 Dust Palliatives July 2019
4-19 Earthwork July 2019
4-20 Landscape October 2023
4-21 Erosion Control October 2023
4-22 Finishing Roadway August 2019
4-24 Stabilized Soils July 2019
4-25 Aggregate Subbases July 2019
4-26 Aggregate Bases July 2019
4-27 Cement Treated Bases July 2019
4-28 Concrete Bases July 2019
4-29 Treated Permeable Bases July 2019
4-30 Recycled Pavement September 2021
4-36 Surfacing and Pavements—General February 2024
4-37 Seal Coats July 2019
4-39 Asphalt Concrete February 2024
4-40 Concrete Pavement December 2022
4-41 Existing Concrete Pavement July 2019
4-42 Groove and Grind Concrete December 2022
4-46 Ground Anchors and Soil Nails July 2019
4-47 Earth Retaining Systems May 2021
4-48 Temporary Structures July 2019
4-49 Piling July 2019
4-50 Prestressing Concrete July 2019
4-51 Concrete Structures December 2022
4-52 Reinforcement July 2019
4-53 Shotcrete July 2019
4-54 Waterproofing July 2019
4-55 Steel Structures July 2019
4-56 Overhead Sign Structures, Standards, and Poles May 2021
4-57 Wood and Plastic Lumber Structures July 2019
4-58 Sound Walls July 2019
4-59 Structural Steel Coatings July 2019
4-60 Existing Structures July 2019
4-61 Drainage Facilities—General July 2019
4-64 Plastic Pipe July 2019
4-65 Concrete Pipe July 2019
4-66 Corrugated Metal Pipe July 2019
4-67 Structural Plate Culverts July 2019
4-68 Subsurface Drains July 2019
4-69 Overside Drains July 2019
4-70 Miscellaneous Drainage Facilities July 2019
4-71 Existing Drainage Facilities July 2019
4-72 Slope Protection July 2019
4-73 Concrete Curbs and Sidewalks May 2022
4-74 Pumping Equipment and Controls July 2019
4-75 Miscellaneous Metal July 2019
4-78 Incidental Construction July 2019
4-80 Fences July 2019
4-81 Miscellaneous Traffic Control Devices July 2019
4-82 Signs and Markers May 2021
4-83 Railings and Barriers July 2019
4-84 Markings July 2019
4-86 Electrical Equipment and Materials July 2019
4-87 Electrical Systems July 2019
4-90 Concrete July 2019
4-91 Paint July 2019
4-92 Asphalt Binders July 2019
4-94 Asphaltic Emulsions July 2019
4-95 Epoxy July 2019
4-96 Geosynthetics July 2019
Chapter 5 - Contract Administration 5-0 Conduct of the Work March 2024
5-1 Project Records and Reports November 2023
5-2 Funds July 2019
5-3 Change Orders March 2024
5-4 Disputes December 2020
5-5 Emergency Contract Administration November 2021
Chapter 6 - Sampling and Testing 6-1 Sample Types and Frequencies December 2022
6-2 Acceptance of Manufactured or Fabricated Materials and Products July 2023
6-3 Field Tests March 2022
Chapter 7 - Environmental Stewardship 7-1 Environmental Rules and Requirements December 2022
Chapter 8 - Employment Practices 8-1 Labor Compliance July 2019
8-2 Equal Employment Opportunity July 2019
8-3 Disadvantaged Business Enterprises October 2023
8-4 Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises  October 2023 
Chapter 9 - Projects Sponsored by Others

9-1 Construction Contract Administration for Projects Sponsored by Others July 2019
9-2 Projects Administered by a Local Agency on the State Highway System July 2019

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