Structures Design Guidelines | Jan 2005
3 - Substructure and Retaining Walls |

## 3.2 Geotechnical Report

A. The District Geotechnical Engineer or the contracted Geotechnical firm will issue a Geotechnical Report for most projects. This report will include:

1.) Detailed Soil conditions.

2.) Foundation recommendations.

3.) Design parameters.

4.) Constructability considerations.

5.) Background information that may assist the Structural Engineer in determining appropriate pile lengths.

6.) Input data for COM624, FBPier, and other design programs when lateral loads are a major concern.

7.) Completed FHWA Report Checklist and Guidelines for Review of Geotechnical Reports and Preliminary Plans and Specifications.

8.) Core boring drawings reflecting the foundation data acquired from field investigations.

9.) Required Load tests.

B. The Geotechnical Engineer will contact the District Construction Office and District Geotechnical Engineer, as needed, to obtain local, site-specific foundation construction history.

C. The Report will be prepared in accordance with the Department's Soils and Foundations Handbook. Geotechnical Reports will conform to the FHWA Report Checklist and Guidelines for Review of Geotechnical Reports and Preliminary Plans and Specifications prepared by the Geotechnical and Materials Branch, FHWA, Washington, D.C., October 1985. Contact the District Geotechnical Engineer to receive a copy of this document.

D. In the event that a contracted geotechnical firm prepares the Geotechnical Report, both the State and District Geotechnical Engineers generally will review it for Category 2 Structures and the District Geotechnical Engineer for Category 1 Structures (See the Plans Preparation Manual, Volume I, Chapter 26 for category definitions).

E. Final acceptance of the report is contingent upon the District Geotechnical Engineer's approval. Concurrence by the State Geotechnical Engineer is required for all Category 2 Structures.

F. The contracted Geotechnical will work with the District Geotechnical Engineer throughout the course of the geotechnical activities.

G. Verify the scope of services, as well as the proposed field and laboratory investigations, with the District Geotechnical Engineer before beginning any operations.