Technical publications

The department provides manuals, guidelines, specifications and other technical information relating to road infrastructure and its operation, including reference documents for roads, bridges, traffic devices, signage, pedestrian and bicycle facilities.

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Hard copies of the MUTCD are available for purchase using our order form (PDF, 466 KB).

For the latest developments in technical publications see Publication News. 

If you have feedback or enquiries please email the Technical Documents Unit.  

On this page:

Approved products and registered suppliers

• Approved products and registered suppliers 

Asset management

• Asset maintenance guidelines 
• Skid Resistance Management Plan (SRMP) 
• Transport infrastructure asset management policy 

Austroads

• Austroads publications 

Bridges, marine and other structures

• Structures inspection manual 
• Bridge design and assessment criteria 
• Bridge/culvert servicing manual 
• Bridge scour manual 
• Design criteria for bridges and other structures
• Design criteria - Marine
• Drafting and design presentation standards 
• Guideline for the preparation of road structure durability plans 
• Rehabilitation of circular corrugated metal culverts 
• Tier 1 bridge heavy load assessment criteria 
• Timber bridge maintenance manual 

Contract

• Engineering Consultants 
• Contract administration system
• Road asset management contract
• Road maintenance performance contract manual 
• Standard contract provisions roads (vol. 2): roadworks performance contract 
• Standard contract provisions roads (vol. 3): minor works contract 
• Standard contract provisions roads (vol. 6): early contractor involvement contract 
• Infrastructure contracts

Engineering policies

• Engineering policies 

Environment Management policies

• Animal Breeding
• Development on land affected by environmental emissions 
• Environmental processes manual 
• Fauna sensitive road design: volume 1 
• Fauna sensitive road design: volume 2 
• Main Roads environmental management policy and strategy 2008-2013 
• Project Waste Reporting 
• Road landscape manual 
• Road traffic air quality 
• Transport noise management: code of practice 
• Roads in the wet tropics manual 

Geotechnical

• Geotechnical borehole logging
• Geotechnical design standard

Hydraulics and drainage

• Hydraulic guidelines for bridge design projects 
• Road drainage manual 
• Storm tide - issues for design of road infrastructure in coastal areas 

Light rail

• Interim guide to development in a transport environment: Light rail

Materials

• Materials testing manual 
• Nuclear gauge testing manual 

Pavements

• Pavement design supplement  
• Pavement rehabilitation manual 

Project delivery and maintenance

• Cost Benefit Analysis Manual
• Main Roads project delivery system 
• Preconstruction processes manual 
• Project cost estimating manual 
• Project manager's risk management guidelines 
• Transport infrastructure project delivery system 
• Western Queensland best practice guidelines 

Public transport

• Public transport infrastructure manuals
• TransLink temporary closures process

Rail

• Guide to development in a transport environment: Rail

Road planning and design    

• Building Information Modelling 
• Drafting and design presentation standards 
• Guidelines for assessment of road impacts of development 
• Guidelines for road design on brownfield sites 
• Rest Areas and Stopping Places - Location, Design and Facilities Guideline 
• Road planning and design manual (2nd edition) 

Roadsides - road corridors and utilities

• Roadsides - road corridors and utilities 

Specifications and drawings

• Specifications 
• Standard drawings 

Surveying

• TMR surveying standards 
• Surveying support documents 

Technical notes

• Technical notes 

Traffic management

• Design guide for roadside signs
• ITS placement guideline
• Manual of uniform traffic control devices (MUTCD) 
• Roadside advertising guide 
• Traffic Control (TC) signs 
• Traffic and Road Use Management manual (TRUM) 
• Traffic control permit 

Supporting documents (eg journals and reports)

• Cost sharing based on responsibilities within state-controlled roads 
• Queensland Roads technical journal 
• Report on testing vehicle windscreens