CHAPTER 6
GRADING

6.00 GENERAL GRADING INSTRUCTIONS

This chapter identifies specific information relative to grading and earthwork inspection.
The following checklist outlines an inspector's monitoring responsibilities:
1. Rights of adjacent property owners should be protected.
2. Site preparation such as clearing and grubbing, removals, and vegetation disposal on cuts, fills, and borrows are accomplished according to contract documents.
3. Excavation and embankment areas should be kept smooth and drainable to prevent saturation during a rain.
4. Deposition and compaction areas should be separate operations to insure uniformity of compaction.
5. Roadway and entrance pipe culverts should be placed according to the specifications.
6. Special compaction, select backfill, and special backfill should be placed according to plans and specifications.
7. Tile lines and intakes should be located, replaced, and repaired to maintain the integrity of the subsurface drainage.
8. The contractor's method of operation shall prevent damage to partially completed or completed work.
9. All finish work should be kept current with temporary erosion seeding performed as the work progresses.
10. It is strongly recommended to initiate temporary erosion control items prior to commencing soil disturbing work. If the project is covered by a storm water discharge permit, the required inspections are performed and recorded and all other requirements are met. See Construction Manual Chapter 10 for instructions regarding the storm water permit regulations.
11. Signs, barricades, and warning lights should be properly installed and maintained at all times.
12. All contract items shall be properly documented.
13. Right of Way contracts should be checked for possible special negotiated items which should be included in the work being done.
14. Contractor's progress should be monitored to insure that the work will be completed within the construction period.
15. A daily diary should be kept showing all work performed on the project by the contractor, subcontractors, and utility companies.
16. Granular surfacing should be placed on local roads, residential, farm, and commercial entrances as per the requirements of the plan. Field entrances should not be surfaced unless the entrance was surfaced prior to construction.
17. Grading activities typically involve underground utilities. The contractor is responsible for notifying the utility companies and requesting that the utilities be located at least two days prior to commencing work.  Utility companies can be notified by calling the "One Call" telephone number, 1-800-292-8989.

6.01 ROAD CROSSING FOR CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT

Specifications restrict the contractor from operating overweight equipment across pavement which is to remain in place (see Construction Manual 3.40). If the pavement is used for a road crossing for overweight equipment (i.e. scrapers), the project engineer has the option to require the contractor to replace the pavement or pay the specified crossover fee. The crossover fee may be written as a credit Change Order. The current crossover fee is $7,500 for a crossing extending across two lanes of pavement.

The contractor may elect to place a steel plate across the roadway for pavement protection.  The steel plate does not relieve the contractor from the requirement of either replacing the pavement or paying the crossover fee. Steel plates are used to help minimize the deterioration of the pavement. The steel plate must be removed from the roadway when the crossing is not in use. The traffic signals, when required, and signing should also be covered when the road crossing is not in use.

Specifications allow the use of a hauling bridge with the approval of the engineer. A hauling bridge is a structure which enables the hauling equipment to cross the pavement without coming in contact with the pavement. Hauling bridges are seldom used.