Design Scene
These documents provide designers with guidance in the application of statewide standards and conventions used in the development of construction plans. Our goal is to present plan information in a clear and consistent format; easy to understand by both the department and industry.
Design Scene Part 1 Pay Item Guidance
Information related to pay items usage when preparing the Statement of Estimated Quantities.
Design Scene Part 2 Plan Conventions
Guidance in the development of construction plans. The chapters are organized by plan section as listed on the title sheet index.
- Ch 1-18 entire document — updated June 2025 (PDF)
- Ch 1 — Title Sheet & General Layout (PDF)
- Ch 2 — Quantities & Tabulations (PDF)
- Ch 3 — Details & ADA (PDF)
- Ch 4 — Earthwork & Soils Notes (PDF)
- Ch 5 — Utilities (PDF)
- Ch 6 — Construction Staging (PDF)
- Ch 7 — Alignments (PDF)
- Ch 8 — Existing Topography and Removals (PDF)
- Ch 9 — Plan & Profile (PDF)
- Ch 10 — Paving (PDF)
- Ch 11 — Walls (PDF)
- Ch 12 — Drainage (PDF)
- Ch 13 – Erosion Control, Turf Establishment, and Environmental Design (PDF)
- Ch 14 — Guardrail and Barrier (PDF)
- Ch 15 — Fencing (PDF)
- Ch 16 — Traffic (PDF)
- Ch 17 — Cross Sections (PDF)
- Ch 18 — General Notes and Miscellaneous (PDF)
- Ch 19 – Digital Delivery and Plan Turn-in (PDF)
Guidance and Resources
These are presentations, checklists and documents to assist with plan preparation. Please be advised that this section is a work in progress and will be updated by the Design Services Unit as time permits. The Design Scene is the most current information.
- Common Errors (PDF)
- SEQ Guidance (PDF)
- Earthwork Guidance (PDF)
- Tabulation Guidance (PDF)
- Drainage Guidance (PDF)
- Guardrail Guidance (PDF)
- Review Checklist (PDF)
- ADA Design Checklists and Guidance (PDF)
- Design Engineers Workshop (PDF)
- Guardrail Guidance Spreadsheet (PDF)
- Culvert Apron Guidance (PDF)
- Surface Models (PDF)
Project rating
- Bidability and Other Critical Plan Issues Checklist (Word)
- Plan Review - Data Collection (Excel)
- Plan Review - Rating Criteria (Word)
Plan presentation basics
These are sample plan sheets with guidance on presenting the plan information.
- Title Sheet Basics (PDF)
- General Layout Basics (PDF)
- Statement of Estimated Quantities Basics (PDF)
- Standard Plates and Soils & Construction Note Basics (PDF)
- Details & Standard Plans Basics (PDF)
- Typical Sections Basics (PDF)