Function of Design Branch

 
Prepares construction plans, specifications and estimates for highway projects; conducts location and right-of-way surveys including preparation of engineering and subdivision maps; negotiates project agreements with governmental agencies and public and private utilities. Provides technical services to other Branches and District Offices.

Provides administrative and technical design services by reviewing all projects for compliance with applicable State, Federal and County requirements, policies, criteria and procedures; processes Federal-aid project plans through the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA); determines manpower and budget requirements to implement work programs; develops and maintains procedural manuals, specifications, policies and procedures.

Administers the design consultant program to include negotiation of consultant design contracts, development of work programs and consultant design contracts, development work programs and project time schedules, and coordination and review of design projects under contract to private consulting engineering firms.

Consultant Contract Administration Staff

Administers the design consultant projects and design management contracts, from inception to completion, to include selection, negotiations with consultants, development of work programs and project time schedules, and coordination, supervision, and review of design projects under contract to private consulting engineering firms; reviews completed plans, specifications, proposals and estimates for both State and/or Federal requirements; acts as liaison between the State and other governmental agencies, utilities, and private agencies; coordinates activities with other branches, sections, and units of the Division relative to the consultant design projects; coordinates federal-aid county projects and metrication program.

Technical Design Services Staff

Develops and maintains Design Branch procedural manuals, specifications, standard details, and policies and procedures. Compiles and edits all project specifications for the division; reviews final specification drafts prepared by other sections of the Design Branch for conformance with standards; reviews new construction methods and procedures to be incorporated into standard specifications; provides interpretation of specifications with the assistance of the Department of the Attorney General.

Designs and prepares complete construction plans, specifications and estimates for approved highway projects; provides technical consulting services to construction, inspection and maintenance branches and districts; coordinates with other offices and branches on project program scheduling and funding; develops and recommends design policies and standards for highways; reviews and makes recommendations on construction change orders.

Design Units A, B, C, D, and E

Designs and prepares construction plans for individual highway projects in conformity with planning project requirements, design standards and adequacy; prepares project specifications, estimates, and proposals; coordinates plans for structures, traffic signals, highway lighting, landscaping, right-of-way, adjustments, utilities, etc., for incorporation into final plans; obtains all necessary permits and clearances from various governmental agencies; prepares environmental assessments; reviews construction permit plans and provides comments; develops and coordinates project scheduling and funding; provides technical information and advice to other offices and units in the Division.

Drafting Units A and B

Prepares drawings for the construction and maintenance of highways and related facilities; computes quantity takeoffs of items such as earthwork and pavement structures; performs computations required for drafting purposes; drafts and processes post design plans; drafts plans from field data for design purposes; prepares pre-design plans for hearings; maintains as-built contract plan files and provides as-built information.

Locates, plans and designs bridges, retaining walls, tunnels and culvert structures; provides the appraisal, rating and technical supervision for inspection of these structures; coordinates structural design work with other sections of the Design Branch, district offices and other governmental agencies; reviews and supervises the structural phase of consultant contract work; recommends policies and standards for bridges and other highway related structures.

Design Units A and B

Conducts preliminary location studies and prepares design computations, plans, specifications and estimates for bridges, culverts and tunnel structures for incorporation in the general construction plans, specification and estimates for projects; initiates and prepares the specifications covering special procedures or materials required for the structural design.

Drafting Unit

Prepares construction plans for new projects, revised plans of structural changes, plans for repairing existing structures and sketches for shop drawings; computes bid items in accordance with specifications; computes grades and dimensions for construction plans.

Field Consultant Unit

Furnishes field consultant services and makes recommendations relative to construction, inspection and maintenance of highway structures; reviews shop drawings of steel structures and prestressed girders and false work plans required for construction of concrete structures; checks permit requests for heavy load movements over existing structures.

Prepares design plans, specifications, estimates and cost control for drainage, drainage structures and landscaping sprinklers; review consultant drainage design plans; coordinates highway drainage facilities with those of other governmental agencies, private developers and local drainage districts; reviews construction permit plans and provides comments; investigates and prepares scour reports of all state highway bridges; prepares application to obtain permits from other governmental agencies as required by the Clean Water Act.

Conducts hydrologic and special drainage studies, storm damage and flood investigations; prepares reports and recommendations; maintains records of rainfall, stream flow data, flood and drainage problem areas.

Recommends policies and standards for highway drainage; provides technical consultant services to the divisional branches and district offices concerning drainage and hydraulic problems.

Design Unit

Conducts preliminary location studies and prepares design plans, specifications and estimates for drainage and sprinkler systems; reviews consultant drainage design plans and specifications; provides technical consultant services on drainage and hydraulic problems; prepares application to obtain permits or certification from other governmental agencies as required by the Clean Water Act.

Drafting Unit

Prepares preliminary and final drawings for contract plans showing location and details for drainage, sprinkler and irrigation systems; prepares and traces construction drawings; develops minor designs and drawings from sketches and data.

Hydrology and Special Studies Unit

Collects and analyzes rainfall and stream flow data; conducts hydraulic and hydrologic studies and investigations; prepares charts and graphs for use in improving, planning and designing highway drainage facilities.

Conducts investigations, prepares special reports and provides recommendations on drainage and flood control problems arising from the maintenance of the highways; recommends policies and standards for drainage; coordinates the drainage design activities within the Division to insure conformance with established drainage and flood protection policies and standards.

Conducts field investigations, reviews and controls subdivision drainage and grading plans for work within or abutting the State highways system to insure conformance to State/Federal requirements and standards.

Investigates and prepares scour evaluation reports of all State highways bridges.

Conducts precise land surveys and locations necessary to establish highway alignments, ground controls, right-of-way and boundary markers; provides parcel descriptions, maps and other related documents.

Survey Unit

Conducts ground location surveys for preliminary location of transportation facilities and right-of-way surveys including research and studies to determine land titles and ownership; prepares descriptions of land to be acquired.

Mapping Unit

Prepares engineering, right-of-way and subdivision maps; prepares parcel maps for deeds or condemnations; maintains and files all cadastral engineering maps for the Department.