Highway Design Standards
Although the highway detailed design must be produced to satisfy the current national design standards controlled by the Department for Transport (Design Manual for Roads and Bridges, Manual for Streets and Manual for Streets 2: Wider Application of the Principles) each Local Highway Authority will have its own local design standards and construction details which the design must comply with for the works to be adopted by the Local Highway Authority. “Adoption” means that once construction is complete and has passed the period of provisional maintenance, the Local Highway Authority takes over all future responsibility for the highway works and that they become part of the public highway with all inferred rights.
As well as layout geometry, pavement design and maintenance, road lining and marking, traffic signs, lighting, traffic control and communications, the design standards also include highway structures, geotechnics and drainage, assessment and preparation of road schemes, environmental design and assessments, traffic appraisal of road schemes and economic assessment of road schemes and road maintenance.
Specification for Highway Works
The Specification for Highway Works has been developed by the Department for Transport for the Trunk Road network – i.e. any road on the strategic network that is controlled by National Highways. PDF’s of the current Specification for Highway Works are available for download from the Standards for Highways website.
The Specification for Highway Works forms Volume 1 of the Manual of Contract Documents for Highway Works (MCHW) and is complimented by Volume 2, which gives advice and guidance in the implementation of the specifications given in Volume 1, as well as examples of tables and appendices necessary for the contract.
Each element of the Specification is given a Series reference number. Examples are given below:
Series 300 - Fencing
Series 500 – Drainage and Service Ducts
Series 600 - Earthworks
Within the Contract Document, each Local Highway Authority has the ability to amend the Specification for Highway Works to suit their region. This also enables local highway authorities to trial new/locally manufactured products and materials.
What Our Clients Say:
Swept Path Analysis and Visibility Drawing incorporated into a Technical Note, Proposed Residential Dwelling, Colchester.
Highway Statement, Proposed Residential Development, Stockport
Transport Assessment, Proposed Residential Development (170 dwellings), Essex
Speed Survey, Proposed Private Residential Development – Testimonial
Access Feasibility Study, Proposed Private Residential Development – Testimonial
Analysis of Speed Survey and Swept Path Analysis
Stage 2 Road Safety Audit, Residential, Staffordshire
Construction Traffic Management Plan
Flood Risk Assessment, Testimonial, Industrial Development, Sheffield
Travel Plan
Require Assistance with Detailed Design?
Sanderson Associates have enjoyed over 36 years in business, our experienced Highway Detailed Design Engineers have produced designs for a variety of developments throughout the UK, Isle of Man and Ireland.
We would be pleased to provide you with our competitive fee proposal to provide you with our Detailed Design Services, please call us on 01924 844080 or click here to complete our secure online form.


