211Topsoiling

211.01 Description . This work consists of, furnishing if specified, excavating,

stockpiling if necessary, transporting, spreading, compacting, and finishing topsoil as specified or directed.

211.02 Materials . The sources and provisions for use of topsoil from local pits located

outside the right-of-way shall be as set forth in Section 106. Topsoil shall meet the applicable requirements of Subsection 715.01. When indicated in the contract, topsoil shall be salvaged from within the construction limits. The topsoil shall be removed only fr om areas and to depths designated by the Engineer. 211.02.1--Materials Obtained from Right-of-Way . Areas from which topsoil is to be obtained shall be mowed and cleared of foreign materials to the satisfaction of the Engineer. The approved area shall be excavated neither deeper than the limits of good topsoil nor deeper than necessary to produce sufficient volume to cover the designated areas. If strata or seams of unsuitable material are encountered during the excavation of topsoil, the material shall be removed from the topsoil. If considered necessary, the area shall be abandoned and satisfactory material produced from other sources. Topsoil shall be transported and stockpiled on well drained areas approved by the Engineer, or transported, deposited, and processed directly on designated areas that have been finished, prepared, and approved to receive the topsoil. The Contractor shall spread or dispose of, as directed, all surplus material left in stockpiles without cost to the Department.

211.02.2 Materials Obtained Outside Right-of-Way . Before mining the material,

approved areas shall be mowed and raked and cleared of foreign materials to the satisfaction of the Engineer. Approval of topsoil pits shall meet the requirements of Subsection 107.23. It is intended that approved mining operations shall include the mixing or blending of materials that will ensure a homogeneous mixture complying with the requirements of the contract. For pits proposed by the Contractor, the Contractor shall obtain and submit for testing representative samples taken at places designat ed by and witnessed by the Engineer or the Engineer’s representative. If deemed advisable, the Engineer may have Department forces take the samples, and the Contractor shall furnish the assistance required. Based on test results, the Engineer will approve lateral and depth limits of satisfactory materials. At the Engineer’s discretion, samples of the material may be taken at any point prior to spreading on the road. This sampling and testing will be for the purpose of determining whether or not corrective m easures should be taken. Material produced and approved as provided herein, will be accepted as meeting all requirements at the point of final loading for delivery and incorporation into the work. Approved topsoil, mined as prescribed, shall be transported, deposited and processed directly into its final position on designated areas that have been finished, prepared, and approved unless temporary stockpiling is required or permitted by the Engineer. In case stockpiling is required or permitted, the Contractor shall spread or dispose of, as directed, surplus material left in the stockpile without cost to the Department.

211.03 Construction Requirements .

211.03.1 Conditioning of Areas to be Plated . The conditioning of areas to be plated

will depend on the type of existing soil on cut sl opes or fill slopes. Conditioning shall be performed so as to secure a bond between the existing soil and the topsoil. Unless otherwise directed, the area to be plated sha ll be shaped and dressed to the required line, grade, and typical section; disk-harrowed to a depth of at least two inches; and be reasonably free of large clods and stones ex ceeding three inches in diameter and other foreign materials before topsoil is deposited. On non-tillable slopes, the areas shall be shaped and dressed to the required section, and the Contractor shall cut trenches or furrows approximately six inches deep and approximately 24 to 36 inches apart, as directed by the Engineer dependent upon the steepness of the slope, and on approximate contours. Surplus material from trenching sh all be uniformly spread over the area to be plated or otherwise disposed of in a satisfactory manner. In no case shall topsoil be placed on slopes until conditioning of the areas has been approved.

211.03.2 Application . It is intended that the application of topsoil, the application and

incorporation of fertilizer, and other erosion control work will constitute continuous construction, and the Contractor’s operation shall be organized accordingly. When the Engineer has determined that the Contractor has made suitabl e arrangements to carry out these operations as indicated, topsoil shall be deposited on approved areas and spread to the required depth and section. When the required depth of plating material exceeds eight inches, it shall be placed in two or more approximately equal layers of no more than eight inches each. Objectionable foreign material, large clods that cannot be broken down, and oversize stones shall be removed and the area dressed to present a uniform appearance. 211.03.3--Compaction . After spreading and shaping of the topsoil, compaction shall be performed to the degree that will provide a firm layer having a density of at least what might be expected from one complete coverage of a crawler type tractor track while the material is at a satisfactory moisture content.

211.03.4 Compacted Depth of Topsoil . Topsoil shall be deposited and spread in

sufficient quantity so that, when compacted, it will have the depth specified in the contract. Determination of depth will be made at random and recorded following compaction of each plated area of approximately 20,000 square feet and more often if determined by the Engineer to be necessary to control the specif ied depth. Each of the plated areas will be considered a lot. The depth of each lot checked will be the average of at least two and not more than four measurements taken within a square yard area. Except as provided in the following two paragraphs, the average depth of each lot shall not vary from the specified depth by more than one inch or 25 percent of the specified depth, whichever is larger. The average depth of the entire area t opsoiled, or the average of the depths of individual lots, shall not vary from the specified depth by more than one inch. Topsoil measured and paid for on a cubic yard basis may exceed the stated plus tolerances, provided the finished surface is uniform, does not obstruct drainage, and otherwise meets the approval of the Engineer; and further provided that in lieu of the Contractor removing the excess materials at no additional cost to the State, a reduction in pay quantity in the amount of the excess will be made. The excess in each lot will be computed by multiplying the depth in excess of the specified depth plus the tolerance by the area of the lot and the computed excess volume in cubic yards converted to loose vehicular measure by multiplying by 1.25. Topsoil specified to be measured and paid for on a square yard basis may exceed the stated plus tolerance and remain in place prov ided the finished surface is uniform, does not obstruct drainage, and otherwise meets the approval of the Engineer. No additional payment will be made for the excessive ma terial placed. The removal of excessive topsoil shall be at the election of the Contract or and at no additiona l cost to the State.

211.03.5 Topsoil for Plant Holes or Pits. When specified or ordered, topsoil shall be

used for backfill material for plant holes or pits. Placement shall be in accordance with the applicable provisions of the specifications for the specified plantings.

211.03.6 Maintenance . The Contractor shall, at no additional cost to the State,

preserve, protect, replace, and do other work necessary to maintain the topsoil in a satisfactory and acceptable condition from the time of placing until release of maintenance.

211.04 Method of Measurement . Contractor furnished topsoil will be measured by the

cubic yard (LVM), at the point of delivery. For topsoil placed in excess of the specified depth, an adjustment in the measured quantity will be made in accordance with Subsection 211.03.4. Topsoil specified to be obtained from sources within the right-of-way will be measured by the square yard of surface acceptably plated with topsoil. Topsoil stripped from construction limits will also be included in the measurement of the applicable excavation item as pr escribed in Subsection 203.04. Unless otherwise specified, measurement for haul of topsoil will not be made.

211.05 Basis of Payment . Topsoil for slope treatment and backfilling of plant holes or

pits, measured as prescribed above, will be paid for at the contract unit price per cubic yard or per square yard which shall be full compensation for completing the work. Payment will be made under: 211-A: Topsoil for Slope Treatment, From Right-of-Way - per square yard 211-B: Topsoil for Slope Treatment, Contractor Furnished - per cubic yard 211-C: Topsoil for Plant Holes, Contractor Furnished - per cubic yard 211-D: Topsoil for Plant Pits, Contractor Furnished - per cubic yard SECTION 212 - GROUND PREPARATION 2l2.0l--Description . Ground preparation, light or standard as specified, consists of plowing, loosening, and pulverizing the soil to form suitable beds for erosion control items in accordance with these specifications and in reasonabl y close conformity with the established lines and grades without appreciable humps or depressions. When performing ground preparation on an area that has been previously planted with temporary grassing, the previously planted gras ses shall be disked, tilled, plowed, etc. to assure that the existing temporary grasses are thoroughly mixed into the soil.

212.02 Blank .

212.03 Construction Requirements .

212.03.1 General . Equipment used shall be approved units suitable to perform the work

and subject to the requirements of Subsection 108.05. The Contractor shall take full advantage of weather and soil conditions, and no attempt shall be made to prepare soil when it is wet or in a condition that will not allow the soil to be properly tilled. Light ground preparation will be required on designated areas where seeding is required to improve the coverage of partially vegetated areas. Standard ground preparation will be required on areas designated to be solid sodded and areas with no vegetation de signated to be seeded.

212.03.2 Light Ground Preparation . Light ground preparation shall consist of

scratching the surface with a close-tooth harrow, disk-harrow, or similar equipment within 24 hours after application of required fertilizer. The depth of scratching shall be at least three-quarters inch but not deep enough to damage existing vegetation.

212.03.3 Standard Ground Preparation . Standard ground preparation shall consist of

plowing or disk-harrowing and thoroughly pulverizing the areas immediately before the application of erosion control (vegetative) items. Unless otherwise specified, the