Bridge Design Memos
Keeping consultants and in-house engineers up to date on changes in design policy.
All new bridge designs shall comply with the requirements of the SCDOT Bridge Design Manual. Bridge Design Memorandums dated 2006 and later supplement or revise the requirements of the Manual. Bridge Design Memorandums dated prior to 2006 do not apply to projects being designed using the criteria of the Manual.
Bridge Design Memos are published by the Preconstruction Support section of SCDOT. The information they provide keeps consultants and in-house engineers up to date on changes in design policy. Select the desired year on the right for the memo you wish to view. If you are not sure of the year the memo was published, click the "View All" link for a list of all memos.
You can also download the Design Memos in *.pdf files. One file contains All Design Memos prior to 2006 and the other file contains All Design Memos 2006 and Later. (The pdfs are large and are recommended for fast connections only.)
Use of the Design Memos is governed by this Disclaimer.
2023
Switch from Metric to US Customary Reinforcing Bar Size Designations
Galvanized Reinforcing Steel Lengths
Finished Reinforcing Bar Bend Diameters
2022
Revisions to Requirements for Providing Top of Slab Elevations Sheet in Bridge Plans
Seismic Design Summary Reports for New Bridges
2020
Neglecting the Effect of Elastic Gains in the Design of Prestressed Concrete Girders
Providing Asset IDs for Bridges and Roadway Structures
Reinforcing Steel Development Lengths for Bars in Tension and Reinforcing Steel Splice Lengths for Bars in Tension -Revisions to Figures 15.3-4, 15.3-5, and 15.3-6 and Sections 15.3.1.6 and 15.3.1.7 of the SCDOT Bridge Design Manual
Revision to SCDOT Bridge Design Manual
Roadway Widths and Geometric Layout of Prestressed Concrete Cored Slab Bridges
2019
Manual for Assessing Safety Hardware (MASH) Compliant Bridge Barrier Parapet / Railing Wall
2015
SCDOT Seismic Design Specifications for Highway Bridges, Version 2.0 Revisions to Section 3, Section 6, Section 7, Section 8 and Section 9
2013
Vehicular Collision Force and Bent Protection - Section 13.3.2.7
Bicycle Rail Height - Revision to Section 17.6.3
2012
Prestressed Concrete Pile Connection Details - Revision to Section 19.2.6.3, Section 20.1.2, Figure 20.1-1, Section 20.2.7.1
SCDOT Bridge Design Manual - Revisions to Sections 21.2.1.8 and 21.2.1.9
Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) Walls
2011
Diaphragms for Prestressed Concrete Beams - Revisions to Sections 15.5.7 and 17.3.6 of the SCDOT Bridge Design Manual
SCDOT Geotechnical Design Manual, Version 1.1 Revision to Chapters 4, 8, 9, 10, and 17
Drilled Shafts - Revisions to the SCDOT Bridge Design Manual and the SCDOT Geotechnical Design Manual
2010
SCDOT Geotechnical Design Manual, Version 1.1 Revisions to Chapter 21
SCDOT Bridge Design Manual - Revisions to Chapter 6
SCDOT Geotechnical Design Manual, Version 1.1 - Revisions to Chapter 9, Chapter 16, and - Appendix A
SCDOT Geotechnical Design Manual - Version 1.1
LRFD Guide Specifications for the Design of Pedestrian Bridges
2008
SCDOT Seismic Design Specifications for Highway Bridges, Version 2.0 Corrections to Equations 9-1 and 9-2
SCDOT Geotechnical Design Manual and Updated SCDOT Seismic Design Specifications for Highway Bridges
Adhesively Bonded Anchors and Dowels
Revised Prestressed Concrete Cored Slab Drawings
Revised Bridge Title Sheets
Design of Prestressed Concrete Girders
2007
Review of Structural Plans and Reports by Preconstruction Support
CSX Transportation Criteria for Overhead Bridges
Processing Shop Plans
Drilled Shaft Reinforcing Steel
2006
Design Manual Errata: Section Properties for Prestressed Concrete Beams
End Bent/End Wall Reinforcing Steel
SCDOT Bridge Design Manual
2004
End Transition for Concrete Bridge Railing Wall
Reinforced Concrete Columns
Concrete Bridge Barrier Parapet Width
Concrete Bridge Barrier Parapet Transitions and Approach Slabs
End Wall Details
Wing Walls
Concrete Stress Limits for Prestressed Concrete Members
Steel plate recess at deck joints
Importance Classifications (IC) of Bridges
2003
Diaphragms for Prestressed Girder Spans
New SCDOT Seismic Hazard Maps
Drilled Shaft Reinforcing Steel
2002
Bridge Drainage Requirements
Temporary Sheet Piles
Concrete Curb and Gutter With Flume
Seismic Requirements for Highway Bridges
Bridges Over Navigable Waters
Use of ASTM A-706 Grade 60 Reinforcing Steel
Concrete Slab Extension
Removal of Existing Structures
Core Slab Unit Bridges
Prestressed Concrete Girder Build-downs
Weathering Steel Accessories
Perforated Pipe Underdrain
Slope Paving
Optional Backwall at End Bents
Bridge Deck Drainage
Section 709.06 of the Standard Specifications
New SCDOT Seismic Design Specifications
Final Finish of Exposed Concrete Surfaces
2001
Shop Plan Policy for SCDOT Bridge Consultant Projects
A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets (Green Book 2001)
Weathering Steel
Railroad Correspondence on Behalf of SCDOT
Procedure for Plan Distribution of Constr. Changes and VE Changes on Br Projects
Camber Note
Title Sheet
Flat Slab Units
Structural Steel Fasteners
Bulb Tee Beams
Prestressed Beam Members
2000
Revisions to Prestressed Concrete Pile-Pile Cap Connections
Sidewalk Width
End Wall Backfill
Elastomeric Bearings
SCDOT Standard Specifications for Highway Construction Edition of 2000
Evazote Joints
AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications
1999
Revised Shop Plan Policy And Standard Notes
New Field Welding Note & Supplemental Specification
Beam Slab Designs
Value Engineering Proposals
Corrison Protection Systems For Bridges (Replaces DM0297)
Bridge End Drainage Details (Replaces DM0488 & DM0189)
New Pay Items
1998
Joints In Bridge Barrier Parapet/Railing Wall(Replaces March 25, 1997 Memorandum)
Printing Of Completed Bridge Plans
Substructure & Superstructure Location Conflicts Between New And Existing Bridges
Approach Slabs
Prestressed Beams
Breaking Spiral Reinforcement At Cap/Column Connection
Steel Pile Anchorage Into Cap/Footing
New Drip Groove Location
Implementation Of Performance Audit As It Relates To Constructability
1997
Breaking Spiral Reinforcement At Cap/Column Connection (See Dsmemo 04/98)
Spiral Reinforcement In Prestressed Concrete Pile
Bridge Title Plan Sheet
Column Confinement Reinforcing (Modifies DM0391, Figure 4)
Splicing Column Reinforcing
Revised Control Joint Details (See DM0998)
Payment Of Reinforcing Steel Used For Pile Anchorage
Detailing Approach Slabs When Adjoining A Trend Guardrail
Classes Of Concrete For National Highway System Bridges And "Other Select Bridges"
Payment Of Spiral Reinforcing Steel In Columns And Drilled Shafts
1996
Soft Metric Reinforcing Bars
Availability Of Various Steel H-Pile Sizes
Anchor Bolt Details
End Walls On Prestressed Beams
Double 3/4" Chamfer On Barrier Parapet Face
Finish Grades On Fast Track Projects
Thrie Beam Connector Details
Dimension Of Bridge Plans
Bridge Railing Wall - Slip Forming Alternate
Concrete Cover On Slabs
1994
Procedure For Showing Water Elev On Plans
Criteria For Rr Overpasses (Supersedes DM0189 Dated 2/28/89)
1993
Substructure Concrete
Conc. Barrier Parapet Reinf.
Bearing Stiffeners
Design Of Pres. Conc. Beams
24" Octagonal Pres. Conc. Piles & 14" Sq. Pres. Conc. Piles
Standardized Load Factor Des. For Br. Slabs
Stand, End Term, Detail Col. Spiral Rein. (Changed To DM0495)
Prestressed Beams
1992
Design Methodology & Live Load Requirements
Special Provisions
Criteria For Railroad Overpasses (Supersedes DM02/89)
Pile Spacing - AASHTO 1991 Interim Spec. 4.5.15.1.1.
1991
Elastomeric Bearing Design
Approach Slabs Details
(Now DM02/92)
Air-Entrainment In Prestressed Concrete
Stay-In Place Bridge Deck Forms
Seismic Requirements For Bridges
Structural Steel
Safety Factors For Driven Pile Foundations
1990
Geotechnical Design And Review Policy
New Approach Slab Standard, Revised Standard Details And Revised Compression Seal Joint Details
Telephone Conversations With Consultants
Concrete Dimensions For Slab Design
Concrete Cover For Reinforcing Steel
Cofferdams
Grooved Surface Finish And Bridge Deck Rideability
Bridge Deck Sealer
Seismic Hooks For Stirrups And Ties
Structural Steel Details (Shear Studs & Diaphragms)
Welding Of Skewed Connection Plates
1989
Safety Factors For Driven Pile Foundations
Seismic Requirements For Bridges
Approach Slabs
Pile Foundations
AASHTO Standard Specifications For Highway Bridges, Fourteenth Edition, 1989
Slab Coping At Top Flange Of Steel Beams And Girders
Prestressed Beam Design
Cap Dimensions For Pile Type Bents
Diaphragms For Prestressed Beam Spans
Prestressed Concrete Pile Lengths / Prestressed Concrete Beam Design
Criteria For Railroad Overpasses (Changed To DM0294)
Asphalt Curb & Flume For Bridge End Drainage (Changed To DM0194) (Replaced By DM0299)