SECTION 553 - COFFERDAMS AND WATERWAY DIVERSION STRUCTURES (Last Revised January, 2021)
553-1 Description
553-1.01 Cofferdams. This work shall consist of the design, placement, maintenance, and removal of
cofferdams as shown in the contract documents. The Contractor shall also construct, maintain, stabilize, backfill, and restore adequate sediment removal area(s) for water discharge control at location(s) shown on the contract documents or where allowed by the Engineer. For design purposes, the bottom of excavation elevation shall be assumed to be the deepest excavation of the entire area enclosed by the cofferdam.
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NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Sections 200 - 599 STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS (USC) January 1, 2026 Volume 2 A waterway diversion structure is not a substitution for, or equal to, a cofferdam.
A.Cofferdams (Type 1). Cofferdams (Type 1) shall apply for a water depth exceeding 8’-0”, measured from the bottom of excavation to the Ordinary High Water Elevation, as shown in the contract plans or when special conditions warrant.
B.Cofferdams (Type 2). Cofferdams (Type 2) shall apply to a maximum anticipated depth of 8'-0", measured from the bottom of excavation to the Ordinary High Water Elevation, as shown in the contract plans.
553-1.02 Temporary Waterway Diversion Structures. This work shall consist of the design,
installation, maintenance, and removal of a temporary Waterway Diversion structure as shown in the contract documents.
553-2 MATERIALS. The materials shall be timber or steel sheeting in accordance with the requirements
of §552-2.02 Temporary Sheeting, tightly sealed impermeable gravel filled bags, precast concrete, a commercially designed system manufactured specifically for the control of water, or other material. Gravel filled bags shall be in accordance with §209-2.04 B. Gravel Bag Check Dams. Bags shall be fabricated from reinforced woven geotextile that meets the requirements of §737-01 Geotextile with a strength class 1 or 2 and shall include ties. No burlap bags shall be allowed. Fill material shall meet the requirements of §703-02 Coarse Aggregate, size designation #1 or #2 as described in Table 703-4. Gravel filled bags shall not have an open top.
553-3 Construction Details
553-3.01 Cofferdams. The Contractor shall construct cofferdams to keep an excavation free from earth,
water, ice, or snow, and to permit excavation to the elevation indicated in the contract documents. Cofferdams shall be designed and constructed to allow flooding at the designed water level, by non- mechanical means such as overtopping or flooding ports. Cofferdams, when used in conjunction with a tremie pour, shall be designed and constructed to automatically flood at the elevation indicated by note in the plans. If permanent or temporary sheeting is required by the contract documents at the location of the cofferdam, the Contractor may elect to incorporate this material into the cofferdam system. Bracing may be required to satisfactorily perform excavation, dewatering, and other required construction operations. Permanent sheeting shall be returned to its intended condition after all cofferdam equipment and material, including any additional bracing, have been removed. Cofferdams shall be maintained in a dewatered condition during foundation construction. The placement of foundation concrete shall not be impeded by water standing or flowing within the cofferdam. Dewatering equipment and bracing shall be of adequate capacity and shall be so arranged as to permit their proper functioning. Dewatering equipment and bracing shall be so located to permit construction of the structure in accordance with the contract documents. All damage caused by the failure of a cofferdam to perform its proper function shall be the responsibility of the Contractor. The Contractor shall submit proposed repair methods a minimum of 10 work days prior to beginning any remedial activities. The contractor is responsible for obtaining any required environmental permits/authorizations and shall not commence repair work prior to receipt. The Contractor shall not erect the cofferdam beyond the limits shown on the contract documents unless approved by the Engineer and DCES. If approved, the Contractor shall be responsible for obtaining all required environmental permits or modifications to existing environmental permits and shall not proceed until all required permits have been obtained. The Contractor shall place the cofferdam so that it will not interfere with any battered piles. Turbid water from dewatering operations shall not be discharged to a stream or wetland and shall be directed to a settling basin, upland vegetated area, or other sediment-removal method approved by the
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NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Sections 200 - 599 STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS (USC) January 1, 2026 Volume 2 Engineer, sufficient to ensure that water returned to the waterbody or wetland from the coffered work area, sediment basin, or temporary water control structure is as clear as the receiving waterbody. Discharge of water from dewatering operations shall not cause or exacerbate erosion. The Contractor shall provide for safe ingress and egress from the cofferdam.
553-3.02 Temporary Waterway Diversion Structures. Waterway diversion structures shall be
constructed at the locations(s) as shown on the contract documents to divert the flow of water. The structure shall be continuous and constructed in accordance with any regulatory agency permit conditions. If a system commercially designed and manufactured specifically for the control of water is used, it shall be installed and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. When Waterway Diversion with bypass pumping is used, the Contractor’s plan shall address the following:
A.At a minimum, pump(s) shall be sized for the flow expected during Ordinary High Water.
B.Intake sump shall be installed in a manner that does not erode, or otherwise degrade the channel.
C.Isolation of the work area from stream flow shall be constructed of clean man-made materials, as per 553-2 MATERIALS. No material shall be used that would create a water quality violation or affect the integrity of the waterway, such as by pushing/excavating streambed material or soil into a berm to use for isolation of the work area.
D.Excavated material may not be used to create a temporary berm unless specifically allowed in the contract documents.
E.Diverted water shall be pumped directly back to the stream below the project. Water flows shall be maintained so that flow immediately downstream of the work area is equal to water flow immediately upstream of the work area and there is no visible contrast between water upstream of the work site or addition of pollutants from the work site. Bypass flow sufficient to maintain aquatic life downstream shall be maintained.
F.Water returned to the waterway at the diversion outlet shall be discharged in a manner that does not cause or contribute to erosion.
G.An action plan for removing the diversion in the event of high flow conditions shall be provided. All damage caused by the failure of the temporary Waterway Diversion structure to perform its proper function shall be repaired by the Contractor at no cost to the State.
553-3.03 Submittals.
A.Cofferdams. Cofferdams and cofferdam removal shall be designed by the Contractor’s Professional Engineer in accordance with §107-12 Water Quality Protection and §209 Soil Erosion and Sediment Control, and all applicable regulations and permit conditions. (See §101-02) All systems submitted shall be designed for the static water pressure plus stream pressure and ice pressures as appropriate, based on the type of cofferdam defined in 553-1.01. The design of cofferdams shall conform to the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications, AASHTO Standard Specifications for Highway Bridges, or other industry accepted design codes. The cofferdam shall be designed, at a minimum, for the Ordinary High Water Elevation, as shown in the contract plans. The Contractor shall indicate the water elevation above which the system will be flooded to avoid overloading.
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NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Sections 200 - 599 STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS (USC) January 1, 2026 Volume 2
1.Cofferdam (Type 1). The Contractor shall submit the design, including computations and method of installation, to the Engineer for approval by the Deputy Chief Engineer Structures (DCES) a minimum of 20 work days prior to starting the work. The Contractor shall not begin construction of any cofferdam prior to DCES approval.
2.Cofferdam (Type 2). The Contractor shall submit the methods to be employed to the Engineer for review and approval a minimum of 10 work days prior to starting the work.
B.Temporary Waterway Diversion Structure. The Contractor shall design Waterway Diversion Structures in compliance with requirements of all regulatory agency permits or approvals and submit the methods to be employed to the Engineer for review and approval a minimum of 10 work days prior to beginning construction/installation of any temporary waterway diversion structure. Construction shall not be started prior to receipt of approval.
553-3.04 Removal. The Contractor shall remove the temporary portion of the cofferdam installation or
the waterway diversion structure, including anchor spuds if used, after such time that it is no longer necessary. The removal shall be sequenced to minimize turbidity and prevent the discharge of materials into the waterway. The cofferdam removal shall be in accordance with §107-12 Water Quality Protection and §209 Soil Erosion and Sediment Control, and all applicable regulations and permit conditions.
553-4 Method of Measurement
553-4.01 Cofferdams. The quantity to be measured for payment will be the number of cofferdams
installed.
553-4.02 Temporary Waterway Diversion Structures. The quantity to be measured for payment will
be the number of temporary waterway diversion structures installed.
553-5 Basis of Payment
553-5.01 Cofferdams. The unit price bid for each cofferdam shall include the cost of furnishing all labor,
materials, and equipment necessary to satisfactorily complete the work, including the sediment removal methods. No separate payment will be made for any additional temporary erosion control measures required to facilitate removal. When a cofferdam is installed incorporating permanent or temporary sheeting required by the plans, payment will be made for each cofferdam established, including any miscellaneous sheeting, additional bracing, anchor spudding, or other material necessary to complete the work. The permanent or temporary sheeting, if used as part of the cofferdam, will be paid for under a separate item. Progress payments will be made at 75% of the bid price after cofferdam installation, construction of the sediment removal area(s) and initial dewatering. The remaining 25% will be paid upon satisfactory removal of the cofferdam and restoration of the sediment removal areas.
553-5.02 Temporary Waterway Diversion Structures. The unit price bid for each temporary waterway
diversion structure shall include the cost of furnishing all labor, equipment, and materials necessary to satisfactorily complete the work. If the Contractor is required to extend the temporary waterway diversion structure beyond the limits shown in the contract documents, changes to the diversion structure will be considered extra work. Progress payments will be made at 75% of the bid price when the waterway diversion structure is satisfactorily installed. The remaining 25% will be paid when all temporary equipment and materials have been removed, and the waterway and impacted areas have been satisfactorily restored.
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NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Sections 200 - 599 STANDARD SPECIFICATIONS (USC) January 1, 2026 Volume 2 Payment will be made under: Item No. Item Pay Unit 553.01nnnn Cofferdam (Type 1) Each 553.02nnnn Cofferdam (Type 2) Each 553.03nnnn Temporary Waterway Diversion Structure Each Note: nnnn denotes serialized pay item.
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Source: Standard Specifications (US Customary Units), 2026 (Jan) Edition. Pages 459–463 of 1,489. View official source ↗