Bridge Design Details

The Bridge Design Detailing Manual guidelines listed below are developed and maintained by the Structure Design Detailing Technical Committee within the Division of Engineering Services (DES). These standard guidelines, examples, and checklists help engineers and detailers produce Preliminary Design Studies, Contract Plans, and other detailing-related standards. Updates and additions to the manual will be made as needed.

The email to request missing files on our page is Bridge.Design.Detailing@dot.ca.gov.

 
 Bridge Design Detailing Manual (BDD) Numbers and Titles  Policy Date
BDD Chapter 1: General Detailing (PDF) June 2025

1.1


 

1.1 General Detailing (PDF)

June 2025

1.1 Attachment 1A General Detailing Aids (PDF)

Feb. 2025

1.1 Attachment 1B Advance Planning Study Detailing Examples (PDF)

Feb. 2025

1.2

1.2 Abbreviations (PDF)

June 2025

1.3

1.3 Titles and Borders (PDF)

June 2025

1.4


 

1.4 Log of Test Borings Modifications (PDF)

June 2025

1.4 Attachment 1C Log of Test Boring Detailing Examples (PDF)

June 2025

1.5

1.5 Use of Standard Plans (PDF)

June 2025
1.5 Attachment 1D List of Standard Plans (PDF) June 2025

1.6

1.6 Use of Bridge Standard Detail Sheets (XS-SHEETS) (PDF)

June 2025
 1.6 Attachment 1E Use of Bridge Standard Detail Sheets                      (XS-SHEETS) (PDF) Feb. 2025

1.7

1.7 Use of CADD Cells or Components (PDF)

Feb. 2025

1.19

1.19 Late Plan Changes (PDF)

June 2025

1.19 Attachment 1F Late Plan Changes Detailing Examples (PDF)

June 2025

1.20


 

1.20 Revisions to Contract Plans (PDF)

June 2025

1.20 Attachment 1G Change Order Detailing Examples (PDF)

June 2025

1.21

1.21 AS-BUILT Plan Corrections (PDF)

June 2025

BDD Chapter 2: Bridge Layout (PDF)

June 2025

2.1

2.1 Bridge Layout (PDF)

Feb. 2025

2.2

2.2 Vertical Curves (PDF)

Feb. 2025

2.3


 

2.3 Rate of Change of Vertical Curves (PDF)

June 2025

2.3 Attachment 2A Vertical Curve Formula (PDF)

June 2025

2.3 Attachment 2B Middle Ordinate Formula (PDF)

June 2025

2.3 Attachment 2C High Point/Low Point Formula (PDF)

June 2025

2.3 Attachment 2D Vertical Curve Calculations (PDF)

June 2025

2.4


 

2.4 Horizontal Curves (PDF)

June 2025

2.4 Attachment 2E Horizontal Curve Equations (PDF)

June 2025

2.4 Attachment 2F Tangent Offset for Circular Curves (PDF)

June 2025

2.4 Attachment 2G Parabolic Curve Flares (PDF)

 June 2025

2.5


 

2.5 Horizontal Alignment (PDF)

Feb. 2025

2.5 Attachment 2H Develop Horizontal Alignment Stations (PDF)

June 2025

2.5 Attachment 2I Horizontal Alignment Examples (PDF)

Feb. 2025

2.5 Attachment 2J Projecting Parallel Horizontal Alignment Example (PDF)

Feb. 2025

BDD Chapter 3: General Plan (PDF)

June 2025

3.1


 

3.1 General Plan (PDF)

June 2025

3.1 Attachment 3A General Plan Detailing Examples (PDF)

Feb. 2025

3.2

3.2 Milestone Notations & Borders (PDF)

June 2025

3.3


 

3.3 Index to Plans & Standard Plan List (PDF)

June 2025

3.3 Attachment 3B Index to Plans Detailing Example (PDF)

Feb. 2025

3.4


 

3.4 Structure Plans (PDF)

June 2025

3.4 Attachment 3C Structure Plan Detailing Examples (PDF)

June 2025

3.5

3.5 Falsework Requirements (PDF)

June 2025

3.30

3.30 Structure Identification (PDF)

June 2025

BDD Chapter 4: Deck Contours (PDF)

June 2025

4.1


 

4.1 Deck Contours (PDF)

Feb. 2025

4.1 Attachment 4A Deck Contours Detailing Examples (PDF)

Feb. 2025

4.2

4.2 4-Scale Contour Sheets (PDF)

June 2025

BDD Chapter 5: Foundation Plan (PDF)

June 2025

5.1


 

5.1 Foundation Plan (PDF)

June 2025

5.1 Attachment 5A Footing Layout Information (PDF)

Feb. 2025

5.1 Attachment 5B Foundation Plan Detailing Examples (PDF)

Feb. 2025

5.2

5.2 Special Earthwork (PDF)

Feb. 2025
BDD Chapter 6: Abutments (PDF) June 2025
 6.1
 6.1 Abutments (PDF) June 2025
6.1 Attachment 6A Abutment Detailing Examples (PDF) Feb. 2025
  6.1 Attachment 6B Preliminary Abutment Sizing Information (PDF) Feb. 2025
6.2

6.2 Seat and End Diaphragm Abutments (PDF) 

June 2025
6.3 6.3 Abutment Drainage Details (PDF) June 2025
6.4 6.4 Pile Footings (PDF) Feb. 2025
6.5 6.5 Piles at Abutment Corners (PDF) Feb. 2025
6.6 6.6 Bearings Pad Location at Anchorage Blockout (PDF) Feb. 2025
6.7 6.7 Sealed Joints (PDF) June 2025
6.8 6.8 BB and EB Locations (PDF) Feb. 2025
6.9 6.9 Cantilever Wingwalls (PDF) Feb. 2025
6.10 6.10 Retaining Walls Wingwalls (PDF) Feb. 2025
6.11 6.11 Abutment Wingwalls Corners (PDF) Feb. 2025
6.12 6.12 Barriers on Walls (PDF) Feb. 2025
6.13 6.13 Edge Distance Calculation for Bearing Pad (PDF) Feb. 2025
 BDD Chapter 8: Typical Section (PDF) Feb. 2025
 8.1 8.1 Typical Section (PDF) Feb. 2025
8.1 Attachment 8A Typical Section Detailing Examples (PDF) Feb. 2025
 8.2  8.2 Box Girder Soffits (PDF) Feb. 2025
 8.3 8.3 Sloped Exterior Girders (PDF) Feb. 2025
 8.4 8.4 Standard Precast Prestressed Girders (PDF) Feb. 2025
 8.5 8.5 Part Typical Section (PDF) Feb. 2025
 8.6 8.6 Variable Bay Transverse Reinforcement (PDF) Feb. 2025
 8.7 8.7 Minimum Deck Reinforcement at Deck Overhangs (PDF)  Feb. 2025
 8.8 8.8 Typical Transverse Reinforcement (PDF) Feb. 2025
 8.9 8.9 Skewed Deck Corner Reinforcement (PDF) Feb. 2025
 8.10 8.10 Median Slab with Concrete Barrier (PDF)  Feb. 2025
 8.11  8.11 Median Alternatives (PDF) Feb. 2025
 8.12  8.12 Sidewalks (PDF) Feb. 2025
 8.13  8.13 Barrier Rail Modification for Deck Overlays (PDF) Feb. 2025
 8.14  8.14 Polyester Concrete Expansion (PDF) Feb. 2025
 8.15  8.15 Retaining Walls (PDF) Feb. 2025
8.15 Attachment 8B retaining Walls Detailing Examples (PDF) Feb. 2025
BDD Chapter 9: Girder Layout (PDF)
Feb. 2025

9.1

9.1 Girder Layout (PDF)

Feb. 2025
9.1 Attachment 9A Girder Layout (PDF) Feb. 2025
9.2  9.2 Camber Diagrams for Cast in Place Concrete Girder (PDF) Feb. 2025
9.3  9.3 Center of Gravity of Prestressing Force Diagram (PDF) Feb. 2025
9.4  9.4 Deck Joints Cast in Place Concrete or Steel Girders (PDF) Feb. 2025
9.5
 9.5 Deck Joints Precast Concrete or Steel Girders (PDF) Feb. 2025
9.6  9.6 Stirrup Reinforcement at Abutments (PDF) Feb. 2025
9.7
 9.7 Soffit Reinforcement (Skews Greater than 20 degrees) (PDF) Feb. 2025
9.8
 9.8 Concrete Strength and Type Limits (PDF) Feb. 2025
BDD Chapter 11: Steel Girder Bridge (PDF) Feb. 2025

11.1


 

11.1 Steel Girder Bridge (PDF)

Feb. 2025

11.1 Attachment 11A Steel Girder Bridge Detailing Examples (PDF)

Feb. 2025

11.2

11.2 Standard Steel Product Designation (PDF)

Feb. 2025

11.3


 

11.3 Complete Joint Penetration & Partial Joint Penetration Groove Welds (PDF)

Feb. 2025

11.3 Attachment 11B American Welding Society Symbols (PDF)

Feb. 2025

11.4

11.4 Control Dimension “Y” on Steel Girders (PDF)

Feb. 2025
11.5 11.5 Cross Frames with Lateral Bracing (PDF) Feb. 2025

11.6

11.6 Retrofit Hardware (PDF)

Feb. 2025

BDD Chapter 12: Railroads (PDF)

Feb. 2025

12..1


 


 

12.1 Railroads (PDF)

Feb. 2025

12.1 Attachment 12A Railroad Details (PDF)

Feb. 2025

12.1 Attachment 12B Railroad Submittal Detailing Examples (PDF)

Feb. 2025
 BDD Chapter 14: Prestressed Post-Tensioned Concrete (PDF) Feb. 2025
14.1 14.1 Prestressed Post-Tensioned Concrete (PDF) Feb. 2025
14.2  14.2 Longitudinal Section (PDF) Feb. 2025
14.3 14.3 End Diaphragm – CIP PS Box Girder (PDF) Feb. 2025
14.4 14.4 Hinge Diaphragm – CIP PS Box Girder (PDF) Feb. 2025
14.5 14.5 Level Abutment Seat (PDF) Feb. 2025
14.6  14.6 Box Girder Cell Access for Inspection (PDF) Feb. 2025