ROAD BED CONSTRUCTION

TREATED AND UNTREATED BASE COURSE

A permeable base is defined as a gradation of a particular granular material that is

open enough to allow water to flow through yet stable enough to support the design
traffic.
Two types of permeable bases:
Treated bases are more open graded and much more permeable. Stability is
developed by the cementing action of stabilizer material at the point of aggregate
contact. The stabilizer material usually consists of approximately 3 percent Portland or
asphalt cement.. It is also the treated base is designed to be non erodible.
Untreated bases consist of aggregate gradations that contain finer-sized
aggregates. These bases develop their stability by mechanical interlock of the
aggregates.

DPWH Standard Specifications

AGGREGATE SUB-BASE COURSE

The DPWH classify the aggregate Subbase Course as Item -200 which consist of
furnishing, placing and compacting an aggregate sub-base course on a prepared subgrade in
accordance with the plans and Specifications.
Material requirements
The aggregate for subbase shall consist of hard, durable particles of fragments of
crushed stone, crushed slag or crushed or natural gravel and filler or natural crushed sand or
other firmly divided mineral matter. The composite material shall be free from vegetable
matter and lumps or balls of clay and shall be such nature that it can be composed readily to
form a firm stable base.

The DPWH standard specifications for highways, bridges and airports, Volume II, 2012
Edition (Blue Book) state that the required thickness is more than 150 mm, the aggregate
subbase shall be spread and compacted in two or more layers of approximately equal
thickness, and the maximum compacted thickness of any layer shall not exceed 150 mm.
But due to advancements in construction technology wherein compaction equipment of
higher compactive effort is already available and in order to optimize time and effort during
road construction.
On April 5, 2016 a department order no. 70 series of 2016 was approved by Sec. Rogelio L.
Singson, that the maximum compacted thickness per layer for both aggregate subbase and
base courses (Item 200 and 201 of the Blue Book, respectively) shall now 200 mm, to be
spread and compacted in one layer using vibratory roller equipment with at least ten (10)
metric tons capacity, until the required field (in-situ) density of at least 100% of the
prescribed maximum dry density is attained. Other provisions of the items of work remain
the same and shall be strictly followed. Test requirements on these items shall be based on
the approved minimum testing requirements (MTR).

CLEARING AND GRUBBING

Classified under item 100 of the DPWH Standard Specification. It consists of clearing,
grubbing, removing and disposing of all vegetable matter and debris except those objects
that are designated to remain in place or are to be removed in consonance with other
provisions of the specifications. It also includes the preservation from injury or defacement
of all objects designated to remain.
The Specifications provides:
1. All surface objects and all trees, stumps, roots and other protruding obstructions, not designated to
remain shall be cleared and/or grubbed including mowing as required as provided below:
a. Removal of undisturbed stumps and roots and non-perishable solid objects with a minimum of
.90 m. below sub-grade or slope of embankments will not be required.
b. Outside the grading limits of cut and embankment areas, stumps and non-perishable solid
objects shall be cut off not more than .15 m. above the ground line or below water level.
c. Grubbing of pits, channel changes and ditches will be required only to the depth necessary
the proposed excavation within such areas.

Method of Measurement
1. Area Basis
By hectare and fractions thereof acceptably cleared and grubbed.
2. Lump Sum Basis
No measurement of area will be made for such an items.
3. Individual unit Basis
The diameter of trees will be measured at a height of 1.4 m. above the ground. Trees less than .
15 m. (6) in diameter will not be measured for payment.
The unit basis will be designated and measured in accordance with the following schedule of
sizes:
Diameter at height 1.4 m. - pay item Designated
Over 150 mm to 900 mm - small
Over 900 mm - large

EXCAVATION
Is the process of loosening and removing earth or rock from its original position in a cut
and transporting it to a fill or to a waste deposit.

Roadway excavation are classified into

1. Unclassified excavation
2. Rock excavation
3. Common excavation

Unclassified Excavation
Is the excavation and disposal of all materials regardless of its nature, or not classified and
included in the Bill of quantities under other pay items.
Common Excavation
are those not included in the Bill of Quotations under rock excavation or other pay
items.
Borrow Excavation
Consist of the excavation and utilization of approved materials required for the
construction of embankment or for other portions of the work and shall be obtained from
approved sources in accordance with the following:
1. Borrow Case 1 consists of materials obtained for sources designated on the plans
or in the special provisions.
2. Borrow Case 2 consists of materials obtained for sources provided by the
contractor.

FREE HAUL OVERHAUL

ITEM 107
The overhaul distance for material obtained and placed within the roadway
limits will be measured along the centerline of the roadway. No allowance will be
made for transverse or lateral movement to or from the centerline except
materials moved to or from designated areas outside the roadway limits, such as
case I, borrow pits disposal area, etc. In such a way, measurement is along the
shortest route determined by the Engineer to be feasible and satisfactory.
If the contractor chooses to haul materials over some other route, and such
other route is longer, the computation for payment will be based on the overhaul
distance, measured along the route designated by the Engineer.
The number of cubic meter-kilometer of overhaul to be paid is the number of
cubic meters of overhaul materials multiplied by the overhaul distance in
kilometers. The unit cubic meter kilometer is the amount of hauling required to
move one cubic meter a distance of one kilometer beyond the free haul distance.

CONSTRUCTION OF
FILLS AND EMBANKMENT
ITEM 104
Embankment shall be constructed of suitable materials defined as follows:
1. Suitable materials are materials which are acceptable in accordance with the
contract and which can be compacted in the manner specified in this item. It can be
common materials or rock.
Selected borrow for topping
Soil of such gradation that all particles will pass a sieve with 75 mm (3 in) square
opening and not more than 15 mass percent will pass the 0.075 mm (No. 200) sieve
(AASHTO T-11). The material must have a plasticity index of not more than 6 and a
liquid limit of not more than 30 as determined by AASHTO T-90 and T-89 respectively.
2. Unsuitable Materials are materials other than suitable materials such as:
a. Materials containing detrimental quantities of organic materials, such as grass, roots
and sewage.
b. Highly organic soils such as peat and muck.
c. Soils with liquid limit exceeding 80 and or plasticity index exceeding 55.
d. Soils with natural water content exceeding 100%.
e. Soils with very low natural density, 800 kg/m3 or lower.

Method of Construction
1. Where embankment lower than 120 centimeters below the sub-grade is to be made,
all sods and vegetables matters are removed from the surface.
2. Roadway embankment on earthy materials are placed in horizontal layers not
exceeding 20 centimeters loose volume than compacted as specified before the next
layer is placed.
3. When excavated materials contains more than 25 mass percent of rock larger than
15 centimeters in greatest diameter and cannot be placed in layers of the thickness
prescribed without crushing, pulverizing or further breaking down into pieces.
4. Lifts of materials containing more than 25 mass percent of rock larger than 15
centimeters in greatest dimension should not be constructed above an elevation of 30
centimeters below the finished sub-grade.
5. Hauling and leveling equipment should be routed and distributed over each layer of
the fill to make use of compaction efforts affording and to minimize rutting and uneven
compaction.
Compaction

Subgrade Preparations
ITEM 105
This item consists of the preparation of the subgrade for the support of overlying
structural layers. It shall extend to the full width of the roadway.
Material requirements:
1. Except when the subgrade is in rock cut, all materials below subgrade level to a
depth 0.15m or to such greater depth as specified shall meet the requirements of
selected borrow for topping.
2. Prior to the start of subgrade preparation, all culverts, cross drains, duets and the
like including their fully compacted backfill, ditches, drains, and drainage outlets
shall be compacted. Any work on the preparation of the subgrade shall not be
started unless prior work, herein described shall have been approved by the
Engineer.

Subgrade in Common Excavation

1. All materials below subgrade level in earth cuts to a depth of 0.15m or other depth
shown on plans shall be excavated.
2. The material, if suitable shall be set aside for future use or, if unsuitable, shall be
disposed of in accordance with the requirement of sub. Sec. 102.2-9. DPWH Standard
Specifications.
3. Where material has been removed from below subgrade level, the resulting surface
shall be compacted to a depth of 0.15m.
4. The full width of the subgrade on embankment after completion shall be conditioned
by removing any soft or other unstable material that will not compact properly. The
resulting areas and all other low sections, holes or depressions shall be brought to
grade with suitable materials. The entire roadbed shall then be shaped and
compacted.

Subgrade Level Tolerances

The finished compacted surface of the subgrade shall conform to the
allowable tolerances as specified hereunder.
1. Permitted variance from design +20mm
Level of Service -30mm
2. Permitted surface irregularity
measured by 3m. Straight Edge +/- 30mm
3. Permitted Variance from Design
Crossfall or Camber 0.5%
4. Permitted Variance from Design
Longitudinal Grade over 25m length +/- 0.1%

Compaction Equipment and Density Control Strips

ITEM 106
Compaction Equipment shall be capable or obtaining compaction
requirements without detrimentally affecting the compacted materials. The
compacting units may be of any type, provided they are capable of
compaction each lift of material as specified and meet the minimum
requirements as contained.

The minimum requirements for rollers are as follows:

Sheeps foot Rollers
, tamping as grid roller shall be capable of exerting a force of 45 Newton per millimeter (250 lb./in)
of length of roller drum.

Steel Wheel Rollers

, other than vibratory shall be capable of exerting a force of not less than 45 Newton per millimeter of
width of the compression roll or rolls.
Vibratory Steel Wheel Rollers
shall have a minimum mass of 6 tons. The compactor shall be equipped with amplitude and frequency
controls and specifically designed to compact the material on which it is used.

Pneumatic Tire Rollers

must have smooth thread tires of equal size that will provide a uniform
compacting pressure for the dull of the roller and capable of exerting a ground
pressure of at least 550 kN (80 psi).