EXCAVATION, BACKFILL AND COMPACTION FOR ROADWAYS

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SECTION 31 23 00

PART 1 - GENERAL

1.01 SECTION DESCRIPTION

A. Excavation, backfill and compaction associated with roadways, roadway appurtenances, and structures, specifically, Class 1, Class 1A and Class 1B as identified in the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Publication 408 Specifications.

1.02 RELATED SECTIONS

A. Related Work Specified Elsewhere:

1. Section 01 56 39: Landscape Protection

2. Section 01 57 13: Soil Erosion and Sediment Control

3. Section 32 12 00: Bituminous Concrete Paving

4. Section 32 12 23: Restoration of Paved Surfaces

5. Section 32 13 13: Portland Cement Concrete Curb and Sidewalk

6. Section 32 93 00: Landscaping

1.03 QUALITY ASSURANCE

A. Testing Agent:

1. Compaction testing for this Work shall be performed by and at the discretion of the Resident Project Representative except if required by the PennDOT Highway Occupancy Permit or Township Road Opening Permit. Where compaction testing is required by permit, such compaction testing shall be performed by an independent soils testing agent engaged and paid for by Contractor and approved by Owner.

B. Reference Standards:

1. Pennsylvania Department of Transportation:

Regulations Governing Occupancy of Highways by Utilities (67 PA Code, Chapter 459) Publication 408 Specifications Pennsylvania Test Method, PTM 106 Pennsylvania Test Method, PTM 402 Publication 203, Work Zone Traffic Control

2. American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM):

ASTM D1557 Test Method for Laboratory Compaction Characteristics of Soil Using

Modified Effort (56,000 ft.-lbf/ft3 ASTM D2922 Standard Test Method for Density of Soil and Soil - Aggregate in Place by Nuclear Methods (Shallow Depth)

C. Compaction Testing:

1. Conduct compaction tests at locations during backfilling operations as required by the PennDOT Highway Occupancy Permit or local Municipal Road Opening Permit.

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2. Determine compaction in state highways and shoulders by the testing procedure contained in Pennsylvania Test Method, PTM 106, Method B or PTM 402 or as noted in the PennDOT Highway Occupancy Permit.

3. Determine compaction in areas other than state highways and shoulders by the testing procedure contained in ASTM D2922 based on previously determined compaction curve data as established by ASTM D1557.

1.04 SUBMITTALS

A. Certificates:

1. Submit certified compaction testing results from the soils testing agency for any required compaction testing in accordance with Section 01 33 00.

1.05 JOB CONDITIONS

A. Classification of Excavation:

1. Class 1 Excavation:

a. Excavation for roadways, shoulders, ditches, drainage structures, stream channels, grade separation structures, retaining walls and wing walls.

b. Excavation for the placement or removal of topsoil and for the removal of existing pavements not being rehabilitated.

c. Excavation for the removal of unsuitable material having a bottom width of eight (8) feet or more.

2. Class 1A Excavation:

a. Excavation for the removal of unsuitable material below subgrade having a bottom width of less than eight (8) feet.

3. Class 1B Excavation:

a. Excavation for roadway rehabilitation, sawcutting and removal of existing pavement to neat lines.

B. Control of Traffic:

1. Employ traffic control measures in accordance with Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Publication 203, "Work Zone Traffic Control" and as shown on Drawings.

2. See Section 01 55 26 - Traffic Regulation.

C. Protection of Existing Utilities and Structures:

1. Take all precautions and utilize all facilities required to protect existing utilities and structures. In compliance with Pennsylvania Act 287 (1974), as last amended by Pennsylvania Act 121 (2008), advise each Utility at least three (3) working days in advance of intent to excavate, do demolition work or use explosives and give the

31 23 00-3 location of the job site. Request cooperative steps of the Utility and suggestions for procedures to avoid damage to its lines.

2. Advise each person in physical control of powered equipment or explosives used in excavation or demolition work of the type and location of utility lines at the job site, the Utility assistance to expect, and procedures to follow to prevent damage.

3. Immediately report to the Utility and the Resident Project Representative any break, leak or other damage to the lines or protective coatings made or discovered during the work and immediately alert the occupants of premises of any emergency created or discovered.

4. Allow free access to Utility personnel at all times for purposes of maintenance, repair and inspection.

D. Protection of Trees and Shrubs (see Section 01 56 39).

1. Any trees and/or shrubs which are damaged or destroyed during construction shall be replaced in kind as required by Owner.

PART 2 - PRODUCTS

A. See Related Sections of Work specified elsewhere for complete materials information.

PART 3 - EXECUTION

3.01 GENERAL

A. Notify Engineer of unexpected subsurface conditions and discontinue work in area until notified to resume work.

B. Maintain and protect existing utilities identified by utility users within the Work area (see paragraph 1.05E).

3.02 REMOVAL OF EXISTING PAVEMENT

A. Under Embankments: Remove existing pavement within three (3) feet of the finished grade, scarify the underlying base to a depth of six (6) inches and recompact.

B. Outside Embankment Limits: Remove existing pavement outside the limits of embankments as indicated on the Drawings, or as specified elsewhere, to neat lines and backfill with suitable material.

C. Roadway Rehabilitation: Outline area, cut and remove existing pavement structure as indicated on the Drawings, or as specified elsewhere.

3.03 SLOPES

A. Vary the slopes, depending on the type of material encountered, in order to maintain satisfactory stability. Remove material by a method that permits the revised slope lines to be neatly and acceptably trimmed to meet existing conditions.

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3.04 LIMITS OF EXCAVATION

A. Do not remove or excavate any material beyond the limits of excavation indicated unless specifically directed by the Owner or Engineer.

3.05 BRACING AND SHORING

A. Brace and shore the sides of excavated areas as necessary.

B. Install adequate excavation supports to prevent ground movement or settlement to adjacent structures, pipelines or utilities. Damage due to settlement because of failure to provide support or through negligence or fault of Contractor in any other manner, shall be repaired at Contractor's expense.

C. Withdraw shoring, bracing, and sheeting as backfilling proceeds unless otherwise directed by the Resident Project Representative.

D. The neglect, failure or refusal of the Resident Project Representative to order the use of bracing or sheeting, or a better quality, grade, or section, or larger sizes of steel or timber, or to order sheeting, bracing, struts, or shoring to be left in place, or the giving or failure to give orders or directions as to the manner or methods of placing or driving sheetings, bracing, jacks, wales, stringers, etc., shall not in any way or to any extent relieve Contractor of any responsibility concerning the condition of excavation or of any of his obligations under the Contract, nor shall any delay, whether caused by any action or want of action on the part of Contractor, or by any act of Owner and Engineer or their agents, or employees, resulting in the keeping of an excavation open longer than would otherwise have been necessary, relieve Contractor from the necessity of properly and adequately protecting the excavation from caving or slipping, nor from any of their obligations under the Contract relating to injury of persons or property, nor entitle them to any claim for extra compensation.

3.06 CONTROL OF EXCAVATED MATERIAL

A. Keep the ground surface, within a minimum of 2' of the sides of the excavation free of excavated material.

B. Provide temporary barricades to prevent excavated material from encroaching on private property, walks, gutters, and storm drains.

C. Maintain accessibility to all fire hydrants, valve pit covers, valve boxes, curb boxes, fire and police call boxes, and other utility controls at all times. Keep gutters clear or provide other satisfactory facilities for street drainage. Do not obstruct natural water courses. Where necessary, provide temporary channels to allow the flow of water either along or across the site of the work.

D. In areas where excavations parallel or cross streams, ensure that no material slides, is washed, or dumped into the stream course. Remove diversion structures and/or cofferdams immediately upon completion of construction within the stream.

3.07 DISPOSAL OF EXCAVATED MATERIAL

A. Excavated material remaining after completion of backfilling shall remain the property of Contractor, removed from the construction area, and disposed of legally.

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3.08 MAINTENANCE AND PROTECTION OF TRAFFIC

A. Coordinate the work to insure the least inconvenience to traffic and maintain traffic in one or more unobstructed lanes unless closing the roadway is authorized.

B. Maintain access to all streets and private drives.

C. Provide and maintain signs, flashing warning lights, barricades, markers, and other protective devices as required to conform with construction operations and to keep traffic flowing with minimum restrictions.

D. Comply with State and local Municipal codes, permits and regulations.

E. See Section 01 55 26 on Traffic Regulation.

3.09 DEWATERING

A. Keep excavations dry and free of water. Dispose of precipitation and subsurface water clear of the work.

B. Intercept and divert surface drainage away from excavations. Design surface drainage systems so that they do not cause erosion on or off the site, or cause unwanted flow of water.

C. Comply with Federal and State requirements for dewatering to any watercourse, prevention of stream degradation, and erosion and sediment control. (See Section 01 57 13).

3.10 ROUGH AND FINE GRADING

A. Grade areas disturbed by construction to a uniform finish. Form the bases for terraces, banks, lawns and paved areas.

B. Grade areas to be paved to depths required for placing subbase and paving materials. Top surface of exposed subgrade to be plus or minus one inch.

C. Grade areas to be topsoiled and seeded to 4" below indicated finish contours.

D. Slope grade away from structures at a minimum 2 inches in 10 feet unless otherwise noted on Drawings.

3.11 RESTORATION OF UNPAVED SURFACES

A. Restore unpaved surfaces disturbed by construction to equal the surface condition prior to construction.

B. Restore grassed areas in accordance with Section 32 93 00, Landscaping.

3.12 RESTORATION OF PAVED SURFACES

A. See Section 32 12 23.

END OF SECTION