Construction Manual
The Construction Manual contained on this website is for information only.
The official document remains the hard copy available through the Caltrans Publications Unit.
The documents on this website will require Adobe Acrobat Reader, available as a free
download from Adobe’s website [one-time setup]. 
Please sign up at Construction-Manual-Updates-Announce list serve if you would like to receive email alerts when updates are posted to the Construction Manual.
| Drafts Available for Review | ||
| Chapter - Section | Proposed Revision | Open for comments until |
|---|---|---|
| Summary of Changes | ||
| 5-4 Disputes | May 2013 | May 27, 2013 |
| Summary of Changes | ||
| 3-9 Payment | May 2013 | May 24, 2013 |
| Sections Closed for Review | |
| Chapter - Section | Proposed Revision |
|---|---|
| 4-19 Earthwork | June 2012 |
| 9-1 Construction Contract Administration for Projects Funded by Others | September 2012 |
| 9-2 Projects Administered by a Local Agency on the State Highway System | September 2012 |
| 4-56 Signs | October 2012 |
| 4-75 Miscellaneous Metal | November 2012 |
| 5-5 Emergency Contract Administration | November 2012 |
| 1-4 Facilities and Equipment | November 2012 |
| 4-12 Temporary Traffic Control | November 2012 |
| 4-0 Introduction | December 2012 |
| 4-37 Bituminous Seals | December 2012 |
| 3-5 Control of Work | April 2013 |
| 3-6 Control of Materials | April 2013 |
| 3-7 Legal Relations and Responsibility to the Public | April 2013 |
| 4-15 Existing Facilities | April 2013 |
| 4-20 Landscaping | April 2013 |
| 4-21 Erosion Control | April 2013 |
| 4-90 Concrete | April 2013 |
| 5-1 Project Records and Reports | April 2013 |
| 7-1 Environmental Rules and Regulations | April 2013 |
| 3-8 Prosecution and Progress | May 2013 |
| 4-58 Sound Walls | April 2013 |
| 5-3 Change Orders | May 2013 |
| 4-11 Quality Control and Assurance | May 2013 |
| 4-40 Concrete Pavement | May 2013 |
How to Comment
Caltrans Personnel Only (must be connected to Caltrans network): Please visit Construction Manual 2010 forum to post your comments.
Others: Please send comments to Construction_Publications@dot.ca.gov
- The "Current Manual Section" column in the table below contains the updated Adobe Acrobat file including changes resulting from updates to the Standard Specifications, policy, and procedural changes. When an updated section is populated in the "Current Manual Section" column, the older version in the "2001 Version" column will be removed. The Construction Manual [Full Download] will also be updated to reflect the changes.
If you have any questions about the Construction Manual contact Construction_Publications@dot.ca.gov
| Construction Manual | ||
| Construction Manual [Complete Download] | April 2013 | |
|---|---|---|
| Chapter - Subject | 2001 Version | Current Manual Section |
| Chapter 1-Caltrans Construction Organization | ||
| 1-0 Construction Manual Overview | November 2012 | |
| 1-1 Construction Organization | November 2012 | |
| 1-2 Public Relations | November 2012 | |
| 1-3 Personnel Development | November 2012 | |
| 1-5 Field Expenses and Purchases | November 2012 | |
| Chapter 2 - Safety and Traffic | ||
| 2-1 Safety | June 2012 | |
| 2-2 Traffic | June 2012 | |
| 2-3 Major Construction Incidents | June 2012 | |
| Chapter 3 - General Provisions | Back to Top | |
| 3-0 Introduction | June 2012 | |
| 3-1 General | June 2012 | |
| 3-2 Bidding | June 2012 | |
| 3-3 Contract Award and Execution | June 2012 | |
| 3-4 Scope of Work | March 2013 | |
| 3-5 Control of the Work | September 2008 | In Progress |
| 3-6 Control of Materials | September 2007 | In Progress |
| 3-7 Legal Relations and Responsibility | August 2009 | In Progress |
| 3-8 Prosecution and Progress | September 2008 | In Progress |
| 3-9 Measurement and Payment | August 2009 | In Progress |
| Chapter 4 - Construction Details |
Back to Top | |
| 4-00 Introduction | July 2001 | In Progress |
| 4-10 Dust Control | July 2001 | In Progress |
| 4-11 Mobilization | July 2001 | In Progress |
| 4-12 Construction Area Traffic Control Devices | December 2006 | In Progress |
| 4-15 Existing Highway Facilities | July 2001 | In Progress |
| 4-16 Clearing and Grubbing | August 2012 | |
| 4-17 Watering | April 2013 | |
| 4-18 Dust Palliative | January 2013 | |
| 4-19 Earthwork | May 2003 | In Progress |
| 4-20 Erosion Control and Highway Planting | September 2007 | In Progress |
| 4-22 Finishing Roadway | November 2012 | |
| 4-24 Stabilized Soils | September 2012 | |
| 4-25 Aggregate Subbases | June 2012 | |
| 4-26 Aggregate Bases | June 2012 | |
| 4-27 Cement Treated Bases | September 2012 | |
| 4-28 Concrete Bases | September 2012 | |
| 4-29 Treated Permeable Bases | September 2012 | |
| 4-37 Bituminous Seals | September 2007 | In Progress |
| 4-39 Hot Mix Asphalt | August 2009 | In Progress |
| 4-40 Portland Cement Concrete Pavement | September 2007 | In Progress |
| 4-41 Concrete Pavement Repair | September 2012 | |
| 4-42 Groove and Grind Pavement | September 2012 | |
| 4-49 Piling | August 2012 | |
| 4-50 Prestressing Concrete | August 2012 | |
| 4-51 Concrete Structures | November 2012 | |
| 4-52 Reinforcement | November 2012 | |
| 4-53 Shotcrete | November 2012 | |
| 4-54 Waterproofing | September 2012 | |
| 4-55 Structural Steel | November 2012 | |
| 4-56 Signs | August 2006 | In Progress |
| 4-57 Wood and Plastic Lumber Structures | December 2012 | |
| 4-58 Preservative Treatment of Lumber, Timber, and Painting | July 2001 | In Progress |
| 4-59 Painting | December 2012 | |
| 4-61 Culvert and Drainage Pipe Joints | November 2012 | |
| 4-62 Alternative Culverts | November 2012 | |
| 4-63 Reserved | November 2012 | |
| 4-64 Plastic Pipe | November 2012 | |
| 4-65 Concrete Pipe | November 2012 | |
| 4-66 Corrugated Metal Pipe | November 2012 | |
| 4-67 Structural Plate Culverts | November 2012 | |
| 4-68 Subsurface Drains | November 2012 | |
| 4-69 Overside Drains | November 2012 | |
| 4-70 Miscellaneous Drainage Facilities | November 2012 | |
| 4-72 Slope Protection | October 2012 | |
| 4-73 Concrete Curbs and Sidewalks | September 2012 | |
| 4-74 Pumping Equipment and Controls | October 2012 | |
| 4-75 Miscellaneous Metal | July 2001 | In Progress |
| 4-80 Fences | October 2012 | |
| 4-81 Monuments | October 2012 | |
| 4-82 Markers and Delineators | November 2012 | |
| 4-83 Railings and Barriers | June 2012 | |
| 4-84 Traffic Stripes and Pavement Markings | November 2012 | |
| 4-85 Pavement Markers | November 2012 | |
| 4-86 Electrical Systems | November 2012 | |
| 4-88 Geosynthetics | April 2013 | |
| 4-90 Portland Cement Concrete | September 2007 | In Progress |
| 4-91 Paint | December 2012 | |
| 4-92 Asphalts | August 2009 | In Progress |
| 4-93 Liquid Asphalts | April 2013 | |
| 4-94 Asphaltic Emulsions | November 2012 | |
| 4-95 Epoxy | October 2012 | |
| Chapter 5 - Contract Administration | Back to Top | |
| 5-0 Conduct of the Work | January 2013 | |
| 5-1 Project Records and Reports | August 2009 | In Progress |
| 5-2 Funds | July 2001 | In Progress |
| 5-3 Contract Change Orders | December 2006 | In Progress |
| 5-4 Disputes | September 2007 | In Progress |
| 5-5 Emergency Contract Administration | December 2006 | In Progress |
| Chapter 6 - Sampling and Testing | Back to Top | |
| 6-1 Sample Types and Frequencies | July 2001 | In Progress |
| 6-2 Acceptance of Material and Sampling Methods | September 2007 | In Progress |
| 6-3 Field Tests | September 2007 | In Progress |
| Chapter 7 - Environmental | Back to Top | |
| 7-1 Environmental Rules and Regulations | September 2007 | In Progress |
| Chapter 8 - Employment Practices | Back to Top | |
| 8-1 Labor Compliance | July 2004 | In Progress |
| 8-2 Equal Opportunity | June 2012 | |
| 8-3 Disadvantaged Business | July 2004 | In Progress |
| Chapter 9 -Projects Funded by Others Agencies | Back to Top | |
| 9-1 Construction Contract Administration for Projects Funded by Others | August 2005 | In Progress |
| 9-2 Projects Administered by a Local Agency on the State Highway System | July 2004 | In Progress |
| Back to Top | ||
| Index | August 2009 | In Progress |