The Bureau of Design and Environment (BDE) Manual contains the policies and procedures which govern the location, design, and environmental evaluation of highway construction projects on the state highway system.

Download the BDE Manual in PDF (October 2021)

Navigate to the BDE Procedure Memorandums to view a complete listing of changes.

Stay Connected

To receive email notifications of BDE Manual changes, subscribe through the free subscription service.  Click on the link below and send the blank email that pops up. (Do not add anything to the subject line or to the body of the email).  Directions for unsubscribing are included within each email notification.

• Subscribe

IDOT’s Office of Intermodal Project Implementation, via the Bureau of Freight Rail Management, shall publish and maintain guidance that establishes uniform policies and procedures for the planning, environmental review, design, and construction of rail projects identified as part of the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency (CREATE) Program.

CREATE Program Manuals

• CREATE Phase I
• CREATE Phase II
• CREATE Phase III

CREATE Program Flow Charts

• CREATE Phase I Flow Process
• CREATE Phase II and Phase III Flow Process
• CREATE Process Flowchart

These drawings and files are specific to individual IDOT districts, click here to view.

Illinois Construction Scheduling Expert System (ICSES) is a Windows-based software program used for planning and scheduling road construction projects. The program is designed to allow users to develop an engineer’s estimate of time required to complete road and bridge construction projects.

The ICSES user manual can also be downloaded here.

These drawings show the details of various construction items and are used in conjunction with the Standard Specifications. The applicable standards are referenced on the cover sheet of the plans. To view the current drawing files and PDF files please click here.

The Survey Manual contains material that is informational and instructional, and sets forth
guidelines and accepted practices to be used by IDOT personnel performing surveying work. To view the current Survey Manual, click here.

The values contained in the tables of this pamphlet provide the data necessary for either the design or the construction layout of the 128 types of transitional approaches to channelized intersections used by the Illinois Division of Highways. Click here to view.

If you are interested in becoming or working with an approved lab that performs material testing on behalf of IDOT please choose from the following: Cement, Concrete, Soils.

The following is a listing of pay item unit of measure to material code unit conversion factors in pay item order.

• MISTIC Pay Item/Material Conversion Factor Report

To view all qualified product lists click here.

IDOT’s Bureau of Design and Environment (BDE) issues the BDE Special Provisions four times a year. They are inserted into contracts as they apply. Please navigate to the BDE Special Provisions webpage for a listing of these materials.

The Coded Pay Items are updated seven times each year. Each updated codebook corresponds with a regularly scheduled IDOT letting. If a special letting is held, the most recent update prior to the special letting should be used. Two years of information will be hosted on the website.

If you wish to view prior Coded Pay Items or have questions in regards to the Coded Pay Items, please contact Charlie Ragsdale at Charlie.Ragsdale@Illinois.gov.

If you have questions in regards to the Local Roads Coded Pay Items please contact Shawn Griffith at Shawn.Griffith@illinois.gov.

Navigate to the Erosion and Sediment Control webpage for more information in regards to methods to prevent soil and other pollutants from leaving the construction site.

Navigate to the Storm Water Management Plan webpage to view more information in regards to storm water runoff pollution.

• Web ESR / AESR Instructions
• Web Environmental Survey Request Form (ESR)
• Web Addendum Environmental Survey Request Form (AESR)
• Wetland Impact Evaluation Instructions
• Wetlands Impact Evaluation
• Borrow Area Review: BDE 2289
• Waste/Use Site Review: BDE 2290

Navigate to the Roadside Maintenance webpage to view detailed information about invasive species and prairie inventories along side our roadways.

• ADA Statement of Maximum Extent Practicable: BDE 3101
• Abbreviated EA: BDE 2401 Template
• Categorical Exclusion Determination and Approval: BDE 2301
• Level One Design Criteria Checklist: BDE 3107
• Level Two Design Criteria Checklist: BDE 3108
• Design Exception Request Project Identification: BDE 3100
• IDOT Mechanistic Pavement Design and Life-Cycle Cost Analysis: BDE 5401 Template
• Omission of Bicycle/Pedestrian Accommodations: BDE 1701
• PCC Inlay / Overlay Design Spreadsheet
• Pavement Preservation Project (3P) Report: BDE 1202
• Phase I Checklist: BDE 1210
• Phase I Report Approval: BDE 1201
• SMART Project Report: BDE 1203

• Estimate of Cost: BDE 213
• Estimate of Time Required: BDE 220a
• Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan: BDE 2342

• Approved LCCA's

• Pre-Project Environmental Submittal Review Checklist, BBS 2557
• Pre-Project Painting Submittal Review Checklist, BBS 2558
• Environmental Daily Report, BBS 2559
• Nonconformance Report, BBS 2560A
• Nonconformance Log, BBS 2560B
• Construction Inspector Project Start Up Checklist, BBS 2561
• Construction Inspector Daily (QA) Report, BBS 2562
• Contractor Daily (QC) Report, BBS 2563

• Drilled Shaft Concrete Placement Log, BBS 135
• Drilled Shaft Excavation and Inspection Record, BBS 134
• Drilled Shaft Qualifications and Installation Plan, BBS 133
• Pile Driving Equipment Data, BBS 136
• Production Pile Driving Data, BBS 2184
• Test Pile Driving Record, BBS 757

• Culvert (Revised 1/23/2017)
• Culvert (Revised 6/1/2000)
• FHWA Seismic Retrofitting Manual for Highway Structures Part 1 - Bridges and Part 2- Retaining Structures, etc.

• Pay Item Worksheet (Standard or Metric), BBS 2546
• Quality Verification Statement, BBS 2750

• Design Guides, the following are included in the download:

• Bridge Information

• Sign Structures (Revised June, 2012)

• Shop Drawing Procedures Memo

• Fabrication Nonconformance Report, BBS 2660A

• Submittal Requirements for Overhead Sign Structure Fabricators

Department Wide Geotechnical Engineers Organizational Chart and Staff Phone Numbers

• Organizational Chart
• Staff Phone Numbers

Technical Manuals and Policy Memorandums

• Geotechnical Manual
• Navigate to the Geotechnical Memorandums and Provisions webpage to view policy changes to the manual.
• Geotechnical Subscription Service
  

  Subscribe Subscribe-dot-geotechnicalsubscriptionservice@lists.illinois.gov

  Unsubscribe Unsubscribe-dot-geotechnicalsubscriptionservice@lists.illinois.gov

• Navigate to the Material Approvals' Soils webpage for more information in regards to roadway geotechnical issues.

The Geotechnical Design Guides have been developed by the Bureau of Bridges and Structures' Foundations and Geotechnical Unit in an effort to document the calculations and proper use of the Geotechnical Spreadsheets.

• Abbreviated Structure Geotechnical Report, BBS 132
• Drilled Shaft Concrete Placement Log, BBS 135
• Drilled Shaft Excavation and Inspection Record, BBS 134
• Drilled Shaft Qualifications and Installation Plan, BBS 133
• Pile Driving Equipment Data, BBS 136
• Soil Boring Log, BBS 137
• Rock Core Log, BBS 138
• Modified SPT Log, BBS 139
• Production Pile Driving Data, BBS 2184
• Test Pile Driving Record, BBS 757

• Pile Foundation Construction Inspection Reference Manual - STTP-S19 (Revised: 2020)
• Drilled Shaft Foundation Construction Inspection Reference Manual - STTP-S32 (Revised: 2/2016)

• IDOT Drainage Manual (Revised: 07/01/2011)

• District Hydraulic Engineer Qualification, BBS 2596
• Hydraulic Report Data Sheets, BBS 2800
• Multiple Openings Waterway Information Table, BBS 2804
• Waterway Information Table, BBS 2730

Click here to go to Bridge Management and Inspections

Please navigate to the Type Size and Location Drawings webpage to view a list of approved drawings.

• BCR Procedures & Practices (Revised: 12/01/2011)

• TSL Index (download all Example TSL Plans)
• Emergency Routes for Preparation of TSLs

• Structural Services Manual (Revised: June 2017)

• Bridge Information

Navigate to the Prequalified Structural Systems page.

The IDOT Bureau of Bridges and Structures subscription service for consultants, local agencies, and other DOTs allows information about updates or additions to be sent out in a timely manner. Areas covered by this subscription will include Type, Size, and Location (TSL) drawings, Technical Manuals, Bridge CADD Support, Guide Bridge Special Provisions (GBSP) files, and All Bridge Designers (ABD) memos.

To subscribe or unsubscribe, click on the link below and send the blank email that pops up. (Do not add anything to the subject line or to the body of the email).

Subscribe: subscribe-dot-bridgesupport@lists.illinois.gov
Unsubscribe: unsubscribe-dot-bridgesupport@lists.illinois.gov

If you have questions or problems concerning the service please contact IDOT Bridge Support at: dot.bbs.comsuggest@illinois.gov

The IDOT Bureau of Bridges and Structures' National Bridge Inventory (NBI) subscription service for program managers and team leaders, and other persons involved in the bridge inspection program will allow information about updates or additions to be sent out in a timely manner. Areas covered by this subscription will include bridge inspection information, FHWA 23 Metrics, NHI and IDOT training courses, updates to Section 3 of the Structural Services Manual, and other bridge related web-pages.

When updates or changes are made, they can be viewed or downloaded from these pages. The subscription service will provide a means to notify end users of these changes in order for them to download the latest versions and keep files up-to-date.

To subscribe or unsubscribe, click on the link below and send the blank email that pops up. (Do not add anything to the subject line or to the body of the email).

Subscribe: subscribe-dot-nbi@lists.illinois.gov
Unsubscribe: unsubscribe-dot-nbi@lists.illinois.gov

If you have questions or problems concerning the service please contact the Bridge Management Unit at dot.bbs.bridgemgmt@illinois.gov

For your convenience a Contact Directory has been provided for questions regarding bridges and structures.

Bridge Cell Libraries

IDOT CADD & GIS Video Library

IDOT CONNECTED CADD Environment

IDOT CADD SS4 and SS10 Environment

Summary of Quantities

ProjectWise

Stay Connected