Poorly read and misunderstood contract drawings are the main cause of most construction problems and disputes.

After an in-depth review of the typical drawing elements on most State DOT drawings, we compiled a detailed list of drawing elements for each item of work discussed in our webbook.

What makes our approach unique is that the drawing elements are presented within the context of the items of work, making it easier to connect each item of work to specific drawing elements. Additionally, we include interactive content to help readers understand those drawing elements and to make learning more engaging.

Most textbooks on plan reading and interpretation are generalized, and they lack context. Such an approach makes it hard for learners to see the connection. We all know that plan and profile drawings for roadway pavement structure differ from those for roadway excavation or for mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) walls.

Exercise: Can you correctly identify the project system based on the drawing elements?
Use your knowledge of reading and interpreting construction drawings to analyze the drawing elements shown in the table.

• Step 1: Identify the project system that these drawing elements relate to.

This table lists the drawing review checklist items for this item of work.

ID	Roadway Typical Cross Sections	General and Specific Notes and Comments to Consider When Reviewing the Drawings for this Item of Work
1	Title Block	Check for any outstanding party signatures that would “invalidate” this drawing – for example, the absence of a critical planning or permitting signature from an agency. Also, be aware of changes to this drawing that either occurred in the bidding phase or during the construction phase. This is the area where these changes are tracked.
2	Legend with Symbols	Construction drawing symbols, such as line-type symbols, material symbols, cross-reference symbols, object symbols, topographic symbols, welding symbols, and others, are among the most important elements found in construction drawings. It is impossible to read and interpret a construction drawing without a clear understanding of each symbol. These symbols provide a standardized way to communicate detailed and complex information for all parties involved in a construction project. Cross-hatching for materials will vary and should align with abbreviations.
3	Abbreviations	Different agencies use different abbreviations for asphalt concrete, Portland cement concrete, and varying aggregates.
4	Existing Pavement Design Template Showing the Type of Materials, Thickness, and Width	The existing pavement structure is critical for estimating purposes and for the demolition of the roadway. Not only is there production to consider, but also disposal quantities.
5	Proposed Pavement Design Template Showing the Type of Materials, Thickness, and Width	The proposed section will provide the dimensions required during the cost estimating and construction phases. It details each layer of the roadway, from subgrade to subbases to the final wearing course.
6	Station Limits for Each Section	The roadway section may vary along the roadway; the start and stop location is provided here.
7	Traveled Way Width
8	Shoulder Width	Data provided on the shoulder may provide two critical pieces of information: hinge point and change in roadway section. The start of the shoulder may be where there is a change in the cross-slope of the roadway, plus this may also be a change in the required subbase and final asphalt thickness.
9	Cross Slope	The slope of the cross-section view of the travel lanes and shoulder is expressed as a percent or ratio based on the change in horizontal compared to the change in vertical.
10	Existing Grade/Contour Line	Understanding the general approach of the Engineer’s design simplifies the estimation and construction. For example, knowing that generally we are removing 8″ of the roadway and putting back 6″ would tell the construction team that utility frame and grates, generally, must be lowered 2″ across the project. Similarly, if this is an overlay job, the roadway section may indicate 1.5″ of overlay, which tells the construction team that all utility structures ultimately will be raised by 1.5″.
11	Existing Utilities
12	Right of Way Line
13	Station Equation	Indicating that the station numbering has changed. The first station number is correct when measuring BACK along the centerline, and the second station number is correct when measuring AHEAD along the centerline. For example, where the station at a specific location along the centerline indicates that the station is Sta. 7+73.20 BACK and Sta 10+57.34 AHEAD
14	Foreslopes	This is the side slope in a cut section created by connecting the shoulder to the ditch hinge point, downward and outward.
15	Backslopes	The side slope is created by the connection of the ditch bottom or shelf, upward and outward, to the natural ground.
16	Survey Data	Survey data may relate to coordinates, azimuths, bearings, horizontal curves, vertical curves, benchmarks, elevations, slopes, and datum establishment.
17	Cut and Fill Limit Lines
18	Profile Grade Line	The location of the profile grade elevation (normally the crown point) is typically along the centerline of the roadway. Depending on the slope, this centerline may or may not be the high point of the roadway.
19	Curb and/or Gutter	The curb and gutter are usually installed first and guide the pavement, which is installed from the face of the gutter to the face of the gutter. Ensure that grades slope towards catch basins.
20	Not to Scale (NTS)	Sometimes, scales are not used in certain components of the drawing package. When scales are absent, there should be dimensional guidance on how to construct this particular component of the project.
21	Plan Notes	General notes contain plan notes required to clarify construction items that are not satisfactorily covered by the specifications or plan details. They are also used to modify the Standard Construction Drawings.
22	Edge Drains	Relative dimensions are likely to be used here rather than stationing and elevation. The installer should construct these pipelines horizontally relative to a pavement edge and vertically relative to a surface elevation.
23	Dikes	Dikes may or may not be fully dimensioned. They are often constructed relative to an adjacent or nearby roadway.
24	Ditches	Ditches may or may not be fully dimensioned. Oftentimes, they are constructed relative to an adjacent or nearby roadway.
25	Edge of Road Features Such as Barrier Rails and/or Guide Rails	Both barrier rail and guide rail are set relative to the edge and driving surface of the roadway.
26	Summary of Estimated Quantities	The sheet number columns in the summary of quantities sheet or subsummaries of quantities sheet are used to cross-reference to the sheet from where the items are to be found and from where quantities are carried. Roadway quantities can often be voluminous and vary between units of measure. Volumes, weights, areas, and lengths can all be seen in a table of quantities.

Exercise: Can you correctly identify the drawing elements in a drawing?
Use your knowledge of reading and interpreting construction drawings and complete the game map (our version of Super Mario) exercise below.

Step 2: Complete the game map (our version of Super Mario) exercise.

This is an exercise to illustrate reading and interpreting construction drawings. The exercise walks the reader through several drawing elements for a roadway typical cross-section drawing. Click Start to open the game, and then click on the big yellow dot to answer the question about the drawing elements.

Throughout the webbook units, we included drawing element tables for each item of work discussed in our webbook units. Additionally, we include the interactive content to help gamify reading and interpreting heavy civil construction drawings.