Chapter 1 of 420% of exam

Planning and Estimating

CSLB weights Planning and Estimating at about 20% of the C-12 exam: plans and specifications, job site conditions, estimating, project layout, and materials and equipment. Some questions require computation, and a calculator is provided. This page is a short survey; the PrepPass C-12 Earthwork and Paving study guide teaches the section with worked estimates and a full practice exam at CSLB's weights.

Read the documents

The typical section gives the pavement layers and thicknesses, the plan view gives stationing and limits, the profile gives grades and the cross sections give the areas for earthwork volumes. The payment clause decides what you count.

Layer thickness
State specifications write thickness in feet: 0.5 foot is 6 inches and 0.15 foot is 1.8 inches.
Caltrans 2024 Standard Specifications §26-1.03D
Grading plane under hot mix
Within 0.05 foot above or below the established grade; under concrete it may not extend above grade.
Caltrans 2024 Standard Specifications §19-1.03C

Check the site

Find what is underground and overhead before you price or dig, and read the soil report for groundwater, fill and rock.

Utility notice
Notify at least 2 working days before digging and receive positive responses from known owner-operators.
8 CCR §1541(b)
Overhead lines
600 to 50,000 volts: 6 feet general clearance, 10 feet for boom-type equipment and material storage.
8 CCR §2946, Tables 1 and 2
Permits
An excavation 5 feet or deeper that a person must enter needs an annual or project permit; one acre or more of disturbance needs stormwater coverage.
8 CCR §341(d)(5); SWRCB Order WQ 2022-0057-DWQ

Estimate quantities

Convert units first, then apply the volume state: trucks haul loose yards, fills are paid compacted, plans measure bank.

Tonnage
Tons = volume in cubic feet times unit weight in pounds per cubic foot, divided by 2,000.
Estimating practice
Tack coat
Minimum residual rates are 0.02, 0.03 and 0.05 gallon per square yard for new hot mix, existing pavement and planed pavement.
Caltrans 2024 Standard Specifications §39-2.01C(3)(f)

Layout and materials

Layout turns the plan into stakes and levels; the materials sections set the base class, binder and equipment.

Levels
HI = benchmark + backsight; ground elevation = HI - foresight.
Surveying practice
Class 2 aggregate base
Minimum R-value 78, sand equivalent 22 and durability index 35 for contract compliance.
Caltrans 2024 Standard Specifications §26-1.02B

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