Standard Specifications
The Standard Specifications for Public Works Construction govern materials, workmanship, measurement, and payment for construction in the public right-of-way in the United Islands of Alto. Where the standard drawings show what a thing looks like, the specifications state what it is made of, how it is installed, and what it takes for the city to accept it.
The specifications apply to city capital projects, to work performed by a developer under a permit, and to any work that will ultimately be accepted for city maintenance.
Organization
| Division | Subject |
|---|---|
| 1 | General requirements — definitions, submittals, measurement and payment, contract administration |
| 2 | Earthwork — clearing, excavation, embankment, subgrade preparation |
| 3 | Aggregate and base courses |
| 4 | Asphalt pavement — mixes, placement, compaction, joints, surface tolerance |
| 5 | Concrete — pavement, curb and gutter, sidewalks, structures |
| 6 | Drainage — pipe, structures, bedding, backfill |
| 7 | Traffic signals — conduit, wiring, poles, controllers, detection, testing |
| 8 | Signing — posts, sheeting grades, fabrication, installation |
| 9 | Pavement markings — materials, application, retroreflectivity, removal |
| 10 | Roadway lighting |
| 11 | Work zone traffic control |
| 12 | Landscaping and restoration |
Special Provisions
Project-specific requirements are issued as special provisions in the bid documents. A special provision modifies or supplements the standard specifications for that project only, and governs where the two conflict.
Contractors should read the special provisions before bidding. Common subjects include restricted work hours on arterials, staging requirements, accelerated pavement cure for short closures, and material substitutions where a specified product is unavailable.
Materials Approval
Materials that will remain in city infrastructure must come from the approved materials list or be submitted for approval before installation. Submittals include manufacturer data, certifications, and — where applicable — samples.
Traffic signal and sign materials carry additional requirements: signal heads, LED modules, and sign sheeting must meet the equipment standards referenced by the UIA MUTCD. Strobe-equipped red signal indications installed under Addendum 4E-A are subject to a separate approval, since no federal equipment standard covers them. Approval addresses strobe output, flash rate stability, automatic dimming, and confirmation that the indication still conforms as a red signal indication with the strobe not flashing.
Inspection and Acceptance
City inspection is required for work in the right-of-way. Contractors must give notice before covering any work that requires inspection — buried conduit, subgrade, reinforcement, and bedding among them. Work covered without inspection may be ordered uncovered at the contractor's expense.
Acceptance testing varies by division: compaction testing for earthwork and base, cores and smoothness for asphalt, cylinder breaks for concrete, continuity and insulation resistance for signal wiring, and retroreflectivity readings for markings and signs.
Warranty
Work accepted by the city carries a warranty period running from the date of final acceptance. Defects appearing within the warranty period are corrected at the contractor's expense. Pavement, markings, and signal work each carry their own warranty terms, stated in Division 1.
Revisions
The standard specifications are revised periodically. The edition in effect at the time of bid governs the project. Proposed revisions may be submitted to the Standards & Design Division at any time.
Contact
- Standards & Design Division: 456-ALTO-TRN (456-258-6876)
- Email: [email protected]
- Materials Approval: [email protected]