Design Bulletins

Updated on August 10, 2020
Reducing Construction Duration and Minimizing User Impacts and Delays

2015-1. January 22, 2015. This design bulletin is intended to ensure that every CDOT project gives appropriate consideration to the use of innovative contracting measures to accelerate project completion, as appropriate, that will aid in reducing the impacts of construction to the traveling public.

Use of Engineering Judgment and MUTCD Request Options

2014-15. December 18,2014. This bulletin provides guidance on how and when engineering judgment may be used to deviate from the MUTCD standards and provides an overview of the various FHWA requests associated with the MUTCD.

Railroad Clearance for CDOT Projects

2014-13. October 22, 2014. FHWA has requested that a statement regarding the completion, or arrangement for, any railroad work within CDOT projects be made prior to the advertisement of the project per 23 CFR 635.309(b). The statement will be made typically by the Region Utility Engineer or the Resident Engineer.

Soil Retention Coverings

2014-8. Revised on July 27, 2015. This design bulletin replaces the guidance in the Erosion Control and Stormwater Quality Guide, Chapter 5, Sections EC 5 and 6, and provides design staff with guidance on how to select and place Soil Retention Coverings on slopes and in roadside ditches in accordance with new Standard Special Provision, “Revision of Section 216 – Soil Retention Covering”.

Project Specifications Assembly Tool

2014-7. Revised on October 1, 2014. The purpose of this Design Bulletin is to provide CDOT designers with the updated tool that is a more efficient way to assemble their Specification Package for their advertisement set.

LandXML Files for Contractors for Bidding Purposes

2014-6. May 8, 2014. This Design Bulletin provides guidance to designers regarding the change to the Project Special Provision Revision Of Section 102, Project Plans and Other Data that establishes the mechanism whereby CDOT provides electronic documents to assist Contractors in understanding the larger earthwork aspects of the job.

Noise Regulation Revisions

2014-5. April 04. 2014. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has changed several key elements of how noise impacts and noise mitigation are assessed and applied to federal projects.

SAP Milestone Schedule

2014-4. Revised on December 11, 2015. (Supersedes DB-2014-4, November 24, 2015). This Design Bulletin defines the 7 minimum milestone dates needed for the Office of Program Management. It is important to standardize project milestones in order to make communication of project information and reporting better at a regional and statewide level.

Estimating Drawdown Schedules

2014-1. Revised on July 24, 2015. This bulletin provides interim guidance on how to develop anticipated construction drawdown schedules during design, and identifies technical support resources.

Construction Phasing

2013-5. November 19, 2013. This bulletin provides guidance for design staff in addressing construction phasing in our plans and specifications for design-bid-build projects.

CDOT Design Phase Value Engineering (VE) Program

2013-3. August 30, 2013. This design bulletin provides guidance on CDOT’s statewide Value Engineering (VE) program, and supersedes the Project Development Manual (PDM), Section 2.15, “VALUE ENGINEERING (DURING DESIGN PHASE)”.

Project Cost Estimates and Federal Authorization

2013-2. March 29, 2013 (Supersedes Design Bulletin 2009-1). The Project Development Manual (PDM), Section 1.04.02, “Federal Authorization and Budgeting,” has been modified to clarify CDOT’s implementation of Federal requirements for a documented Project Cost Estimate when the FHWA authorization of Federal funds is requested.

Preparing an Independent Cost Estimate for Consultant Services

2013-1. March 29, 2013. The Project Development Manual (PDM) Sections 1.05.01, “Obtaining a Consultant Contract” and 1.05.02, “Preparing an Independent Cost Estimate for Consultant Contracts,” have been modified to clarify CDOT’s implementation of Federal requirements for an Independent Cost Estimate (ICE) for Consultant Contracts.