SECTION 503 - PORTLAND CEMENT CONCRETE FOUNDATION FOR PAVEMENT (Last Revised January, 2025 )
503-1 DESCRIPTION. Construct a Portland Cement Concrete (PCC) foundation for pavements and
shoulders, if required, as detailed in the contract documents.
503-2 MATERIALS. Apply the requirements of §502-2 Materials except as modified herein:
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NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Sections 200 - 599 STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS (USC) January 1, 2026 Volume 2
503-2.01 Performance Engineered Mixes (PEM) – Provide a Performance Engineered Mix in
accordance with Section 501, Portland Cement Concrete – General. The PEM concrete shall meet the design requirements of Materials Procedure MP502-01 Design and Approval of Performance Engineered Concrete Pavement for 503-PCC Pavement Foundations. Obtain approval of the mix design from the Director of the Materials Bureau prior to placing any concrete. Any change to aggregate sources, major proportioning changes, cement type, supplementary cementitious material type or chemical admixture type/brand will require a new mix design. Minor changes in admixture dosages based on environmental conditions will not constitute a new mix design. The Regional Materials Engineer will evaluate changes to determine if a new trial batch is required.
503-3 CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS. Apply the requirements of §502-3 Construction Details
except as modified herein:
503-3.01 Placement of Reinforcement. Place bar reinforcement around utilities, drainage structures, and
other projections into the pavement as depicted in the 502 Standard Sheets.
503-3.02 Joints. Transverse joint supports are not required for contraction joints. Saw cut skewed
contraction joints at approximately 10° from perpendicular to the centerline (a “6 on 1” skew) before uncontrolled cracking occurs. Saw cut in accordance with the first-stage saw cut details in the 502 Standard Sheets. Use a maximum joint spacing of 20 feet and a minimum spacing that satisfies the geometric requirements of the 502 Standard Sheets. Center utilities and drainage structures between saw cuts. Skewed joints may be cut at the same angle across the pavement or chevron-shaped with the vertex at a longitudinal joint between separate placements. Maintain the same technique once selected. Construct transverse construction joints perpendicular to the centerline in accordance with §502-3.06A3, Transverse Construction Joints. Construct longitudinal joints in accordance with §502-3.06B, Longitudinal Joints.
503-3.03 Finishing. Hand finish the pavement to correct surface irregularities.
503-3.04 Testing the Surface. Immediately after placement, test the entire longitudinal center of each
travel lane with a 10-foot-long, minimum, straight edge laid longitudinally. Immediately correct any surface irregularity exceeding 3/8 inches in 10 feet.
503-3.05 Texturing. Immediately after testing the surface, apply an aggressive transverse broom finish.
503-3.06 Curing. Cure in accordance with §502-3.11 Curing, except the impervious membrane method,
i.e., curing compound, is not permitted.
503-3.07 Sealing Joints. Seal skewed contraction joints in accordance with §502-3.12A, Highway Joint
Sealant, if a construction delay occurs that leaves the PCC Foundation Course exposed until the subsequent construction season. Joint sealing is not required for PCC Foundation Courses when overlaid within the same calendar year of construction.
503-4 Method of Measurement.
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NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Sections 200 - 599 STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS (USC) January 1, 2026 Volume 2
503-4.01 Portland Cement Concrete Foundation for Pavement. The work will be measured for
payment as the number of cubic yards of Portland Cement Concrete Foundation for Pavement placed.
503-4.02 Constructing Longitudinal Joints. The work will be measured for payment as the number of
feet of longitudinal joints constructed that contain longitudinal joint ties.
503-5 Basis of Payment.
503-5.01 Portland Cement Concrete Foundation for Pavement. Include the cost of all labor, material,
and equipment necessary to satisfactorily perform the work, including first stage saw cuts, in the unit price bid for Portland Cement Concrete Foundation for Pavement. No payment will be made for areas that do not meet minimum plastic thickness requirements as described in §502-3.08, Plastic Thickness Determination. No additional payment will be made for concrete placed in excess of the tolerances described in §502-3.08, Plastic Thickness Determination.
503-5.02 Constructing Longitudinal Joints. Include the cost of all labor, material, and equipment
necessary to perform the work in the unit price bid for Constructing Longitudinal Joints. Payment will be made under: Item No. Item Pay Unit 503.1012 PCC Foundation for Pavement, HES Concrete Cubic Yard 503.1013 PCC Foundation for Pavement, PEM Concrete Cubic Yard 503.9110 Constructing Longitudinal Joints in Foundation Pavement Linear Foot SECTION 504 VACANT
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