810 - Permanent Traffic Signs and Supports

810 Permanent Traffic Signs and Supports

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Roadway signage is a critical safety feature and construction staff should ensure all signage is properly constructed & installed correctly in the proper location. Misplaced or irregular signs can create a critical hazard to traffic.

Modern signs/supports can be quite large and will require close cooperation between all forces on highway construction projects so the roadway is signed properly when opened to traffic.

Any sign that is erected on a section of roadway not immediately applicable to traffic shall be covered in accordance with Standard Specifications for Construction Sections 812.03.D and 922.02.D until the appropriate time for uncovering it. It is essential that signs with conflicting messages not be displayed.

MATERIALS

All materials for installation on permanent signing projects must meet the requirements of the MDOT Sign Support Standards and in accordance with Section 919 of the Standard Specifications for Construction.

Materials incorporated into MDOT signing projects which are not listed on the Qualified Product List must be accounted for by the Engineer who completes and submit a Materials Source list form to initiate appropriate action for basis of acceptance. This form shall be complete and cover all materials which are identified on the plans or in the specifications. The Materials source list and documentations shall be in accordance to the Materials Source Guide and supplemental Manuals.

EQUIPMENT

A large selection of tools, supplies and heavy machinery are necessary for the installation of ground mounted and overhead signs and their supports. Below are a just a few examples of items that may be applicable for construction of permanent signing projects.

Trucks/Machinery:

• Truck mounted Cranes, Augers & Hydraulic Post drivers
• Truck mounted booms
• Light towers (for nighttime installation activities)
• Backhoe

Survey:

• Lasers & Levels (4 foot levels for checking plumb of Posts and/or Uprights)
• Stakes, Flagging tape, marking utensils
• Upside-down paint (for staking/marking posts)
• Survey Rods
• Transit levels

Tools:

• Concrete finishing tools: Used to mold and shape post foundations after pour
• Sawzalls: Used( for cutting off old Wood posts near it’s foundation
• Sledgehammers
• Torch cutters: Used for cutting off anchor rod/bolts of End supports from concrete bases
• Torque wrench, Hydraulic wrench, hand wrench
• Torque Drills, Drill bits & Hex Sockets
• Air Compressors, Air Hammers
• Angle Grinders
• Post Hole Concrete core drills & cutters

Measuring Devices:

• Measuring Tapes
• Measuring Wheels
• Carpenters folding ruler: Used for measuring sign dimensions, base plate standoff.
• Laser Distance Measuring tool: Used for measuring Clearances and Span Lengths

Miscellaneous:

• Nylon straps, slings and hooks
• Sand bags
• Stencils for Sign Support Structure ID’s on uprights
• Spray paint: Used for painting structure numbers to vertical supports/poles of structures.
• Calipers: Used for measuring diameter or thickness of smaller structure components such as anchor bolts, base plate connections or component section losses.

Work safety during use of equipment and tools is of the utmost importance in signing projects. The Contractor must agree to provide the labor and supervision machinery, tools, apparatus and other means of construction; do all the work in manner of safety for their crews and the motorist; furnish all necessary resources and take any steps as may be needed to complete project in strict accordance with contract plans and the proposal to the satisfaction of the Department.

PRECONSTRUCTION

SUBMITTALS

Contract Award Information:

Contractor may view the status of award at the “Construction Contract Inquiry” site. Questions not answered there should be directed to MDOT-awards@michigan.gov

Contractor DBE Commitment:

Submit MDOT Form 2653 and any questions to MDOT-DBESheets@michigan.gov

Insurance Requirements:

Contractors will submit their insurance documents directly to ProjectWise by dropping the insurance document in the INSURANCE folder found under the Awards folder.

SHOPDRAWINGS

Working drawings of sign support structures shall be reviewed by the Project Engineer for conformance with the Standard Plans and contract requirements. The Project Engineer approves shop drawings in conformance with the standard plans. Any request to deviate from standard plans should be reviewed by the MDOT Bridge and Structures office in compliance with Structural Fabrication Quality Manual.

The working drawings of special design sign structures and/or special sign fittings shall be submitted to the MDOT Bridge and Structures office, which will coordinate approval with the Structural Fabrication Unit. After approval, the MDOT Bridge and Structures office will retain one set and forward the approved PDF file to the Project Office. The Project Engineer will forward the approved PDF file to the Contractor, who will forward to the Fabricator.

Fabrication should proceed only with approved shop drawings. However, if the Fabricator must proceed prior to receipt of approved shop drawings (performing work at their own risk), ensure that the Structural Fabrication Unit is aware of this activity and await instructions on how to proceed. If the Project Engineer permits the work to proceed without approved shop drawings, proceed with basic Quality Assurance functions using the non-approved shop drawings in accordance with the Structural Fabrication Quality Manual. Later, verify notes against the approved drawings. Notify the Structural Fabrication Unit immediately if fabrication is not in conformance with the approved shop drawings.

If a structural review is not required by the MDOT Bridge and Structures office, the Project Engineer shall initiate MDOT’s two-part acceptance process for structural products to be accepted in accordance with Section 1.1.7 of the Structural Fabrication Quality Manual.

All drawings shall be clearly marked before returned to the Contractor, whether reviewed and checked by the Project Engineer or the MDOT Bridge and Structures Office. The Project Engineer is responsible for checking the geometric features of these items. Specific items that should be checked include the following:

• Foundation Location
• Bridge Beam fascia’s
• Concrete Barrier locations

The special provisions of the contract deal to a great extent with the proper fabrication of the signs to be installed and the manufacturing process requiring the use of approved materials and application equipment. It is necessary, therefore, that the sign manufacturer who actually makes the signs be approved as a source of supply with certifications that meets all MDOT listed specifications requirements in accordance with Materials Source Guide.

5. CONSTRUCTION

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MATERIALS

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CONSTRUCTION

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MEASUREMENT AND PAYMENT

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