Highway Program

The Highway Program within the Bureau of Project Development of MaineDOT is responsible for design and construction of projects to improve the safety and mobility of Maine’s highways and streets for all users.

This site is divided into three sections containing design and construction policies, practices and procedures, engineering instructions, design guidance and other information relative to the Program’s responsibilities:

  • General - This section contains all of the Program’s processes, forms, and general procedures that apply to all highway projects.
  • Design - This section contains the Program’s practices and procedures related to the elements of highway design.  It also contains related engineering instructions, design guidance and other references.  Practices and procedures, engineering instructions and design guidance are based on A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) also known as the AASHTO Green Book, or other related documents and publications.  For further information, refer to the AASHTO Green Book or the other references provided for each highway design element.
  • Construction - This section contains the Program’s references, documentation, forms, policies, and practices and procedures for highway construction.
General
Project Development Processes

Highway Program Process for Project Development (PDF)

Design Check and Review Process


Public Process

Forms
Model and 3D Data
Preparation of Contract Documents

Preparation of Plans


Contract Bid Book Submittals


General Notes

Estimating
Training Materials

Joint ACEC and MaineDOT Training

Pavement Preservation (ODG)

Practices and Procedures


Sample Documents


Forms


General Notes

Design
1. Basic Design Controls

This element contains information about Highway Corridor Priority, functional classification, traffic volume controls, scope of work, controlling criteria and design exceptions.

2. Horizontal Design

This element contains information about horizontal curves, sight distance and superelevation development for rural highways, high-speed urban highways and low speed urban streets.

3. Vertical Design

This element contains information about stopping sight distance, grades and vertical curves.

4. Cross Section Elements

This element contains information about roadway sections, medians and roadside elements.

5. Intersections and Interchanges

This element contains information about intersection alignment and profile, intersection sight distance, turning radii and roadways, auxiliary lanes, continuous two-way left turn lanes, median openings, islands, entrance design, roundabouts, interchanges and ramp design.

6. Roadside Design

This element contains information about roadside clear zones, barrier warrants, barrier types and layout, median barriers and impact attenuators (crash cushions).

7. Drainage Design

This element contains information about hydrology, open channels and ditches, culverts, pavement drainage structures and closed systems.

8. Pavement Design

This element contains information about structural pavement design.

9. Complete Streets Design

This element contains information about ADA compliance and requirements, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, parking, traffic control devices, landscaping, traffic calming, transit and railroad considerations, highway lighting and other street amenities.

10. Geotechnical Design

This element contains information about geotechnical engineering procedures.

Construction
References
Construction Documentation and Forms
Construction Policies, Practices and Procedures
Highway Program Construction Memos