Technical notes
Technical notes contain information relating to the department's technical documents. Technical notes should be read alongside the relevant standard, manual or guideline.
The Amendment Register summarises the significant changes to each Technical Note over time.
Technical note categories
- TN03 Guidelines for construction-induced ground vibration on structures - provides safe vibration limits and minimum working distances for rollers and general plants.
- TN18 Design Criteria for Motor Grids - addresses requirements for Motor Grids. Update to previous TN18 Design Criteria for Stock Grids.
- TN23 Design Criteria for Precast Drainage Pits - addresses requirements precast drainage pits.
- TN25 Post Tensioning Anchorage Approval - approval process for post tensioning anchorage systems.
- TN27 Guidelines for Design of Precast Culvert and Pipe Headwalls - addresses the design criteria for precast concrete headwalls for box culverts and pip culverts.
- TN45 Surface Finish of Prestressed Concrete Octagonal Piles - describes satisfactory surface treatments for the eight faces.
- TN49 Theft Proofing of Aluminium Bridge Rail and Balustrade - remedial work for existing installations and future design notes.
- TN50 Surface Treatment of Prestressed Concrete Elements - details required for surface finishes.
- TN54 Fibre Composite Projects - general information on fibre composites and use on departmental projects.
- TN60 Materials Test Certificates Acceptance - explains the requirements for supply of material test certificates.
- TN61 Use and Storage of Hydrogen Controlled Electrodes - explains the requirements for the handling, storage and use of hydrogen controlled electrodes.
- TN62 Assembly and Tensioning of High Strength Bolts and Nuts - defines acceptable requirements for assembly and tensioning of high strength bolts and nuts, and is now separated into parts specifying each of the three classes:
- TN64 Tensioning and Re-tensioning of Slip Base Pole Bolts - defines acceptable methods of tensioning and re-tensioning.
- TN67 VMS Gantry Repair Procedure - provides a repair procedure for the various defects found during Bridge Information System Level 2 inspections of VMS gantry structures.
- TN69 Banners on Light Poles - outlines the technical requirements for affixing vertical banners to Rate 3 Light Poles owned by Transport and Main Roads.
- TN99 Sulphate Reducing Bacteria on Steel Structures - describes types and characteristics of bacteria, mechanisms for corrosions and inhibition of growth.
- TN103 Vandalism of Plastic Pipe under Roads, Rail and Similar Infrastructure - polyethylene pipes, used for drainage below the roadway, have been withdrawn for use due to systematic vandalism by fire.
- TN106 Crevice Corrosion Defect - welding to prevent corrosion between members.
- TN107 Steelwork Inspection Requirements - explains requirements of structural steelwork inspection to departmental specification.
- TN123 Flow charts for selection of gantries for Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) devices - withdrawn: see Queensland Guide to Smart Motorways (QGSM).
- TN124 Durability issues of reinforced concrete driven piles - outlines why reinforced concrete driven piles are not an acceptable substitution for prestressed concrete driven piles for departmental bridges and structures.
- TN125 Long distance transport and extended placement times for concrete - provides guidelines when concrete cannot be delivered to site, placed and compacted within the timeframe stipulated in MRTS70 Concrete.
- TN144 Paint Systems for MRTS88 - reference document to assist with the selection of an appropriate paint system when preparing the Annexure to MRTS88.
- TN146 Long term maintenance issues for bridges - outlines innovative practices that the department requires, and does not accept, to ensure value for money and minimum whole of design life for bridges and other high risk infrastructure.
- TN174 Purchasing Guidelines for TMR Major Sign Structures - applies to the design and installation of major signs or gantries and supports structures, particularly Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) structures.
- TN176 Vinyl Sheet Piles - specifies the design criteria for vinyl sheet piles in departmental projects, limited to short term, emergency applications.
- TN187 Controlled Low-Strength Material for Pipe Installation - guides Contractors wishing to employ an alternative method for backfilling stormwater drainage pipes.
- TN189 Generic Road Safety Camera Poles - provides the functional specification and minimum structural requirements for the design, manufacture and installation of 3.5 m and 5.6 m generic poles for road safety equipment
- TN63 Assessment of electrical pit products to MRTS91 and MRTS78 - acceptance requirements for the supply of pits, collars and covers to departmental projects.
- TN145 Use of residual current devices in departmental infrastructure - addresses the various types of fixed residual current devices and their selection, installation, testing and application within the electrical infrastructure of the department.
- TN123 Flow charts for selection of gantries for Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) devices - withdrawn: see Queensland Guide to Smart Motorways (QGSM).
- TN158 Guide to the use of LED road lighting luminaires - provides guidance on the use of LED road lighting luminaires on the department's road network. For departmental approved LED luminaires please use the LED Luminaire Selection Guide for TN158.
- TN159 Treatment of Non-compliant Underground Wiring Systems (UWS) in Brownfield Installations - applies to the treatment of under-depth or non-compliant UWS in Brownfield sites for non-compliances associated with underground conductors.
- TN172 36-core Multicore Cable for Traffic Signal Installations - provides guidance on how to use 36-core multicore cables for traffic signal installations.
- TN173 Tensioning Hexagon Nuts on Lantern Mounting Bolts - provides detailed requirements and procedures for traffic signal lantern installations.
- TN194 Conversion from PE cell controlled power to 24/7 power and electrical clearance hazard remediation for NPL 3 switchboards - provides guidance on the conversion of PE cell controlled power to 24/7 mains controlled power and the removal of screws from the facing escutcheon plate for departmental owned NPL 3 switchboards.
- TN202 Vinyl film wrapping of traffic signal controllers - gives instruction on the use of an external vinyl film wrapping system for traffic signal controller cabinets (TSCCs). This Technical Note aims to specify the minimum and desirable requirements for the use of externally-applied vinyl cast film wrapping system for TSCCs and describes the application and removal of vinyl cast film wrapping system for TSCCs to avoid the potential damage. A vinyl wrap may be desirable as a deterrent for graffiti or tagging on a TSCC.
- TN210 Installation guidelines for extended range lantern supply conductors - provides installation guidelines on how lanterns with long supply conductors should be run and connected to the mast arm junction box.
- TN217 Electrical periodic verification procedures for road lighting - outlines the revised procedures for electrical Periodic Verification (PV) of road lighting installations, providing guidance for specifying and performing these works.
- TN220 Requirements for Advance Warning Signals - covers requirements for different use cases for Advance Warning Signals that are controlled by a traffic signal controller.
- EN07 Conformance of modified polymer binders - guidance to Administrators on determining an appropriate deduction value for deliveries on non-conforming polymer modified binders.
- TN118 Sealing of Unsealed Roads with Low Traffic - identifies key technical issues to be considered when sealing and unsealed pavement or formation that carries low traffic.
- TN140 Source Material Assessment for Subtype 2.5, Subtype 3.5 and Type 4 Unbound Pavement Materials - assure the quality and supply capacity for the source material for pavements is produced.
- TN143 Rehabilitation Technique and Treatment Prioritisation Method of Plain Concrete Pavements (PCP) - withdrawn: see Rehabilitation technique and treatment prioritisation method of Plain Concrete Pavements (PCP) guideline for guidance for rehabilitation and treatment of existing PCP where pavements are outside defect liability and warranty periods.
- TN148 Asphalt Mix Design Registration - assists Prequalified Asphalt Contractors (PAC) with registering asphalt mix designs with the department.
- TN168 Asphalt Warranty and Register of Asphalt Works not Warrantied - explains how the warranty will work for Transport and Main Roads projects that contain asphalt, specifically for Transport Infrastructure Contracts (TIC).
- TN171 Use of High Standard Granular (HSG) Bases in Heavy Duty Unbound Granular Pavements - aligns with the updates to MRTS05 Unbound Pavements that introduces default specification requirements for HSG pavement materials.
- TN175 Selection and Design of Sprayed Bituminous Treatments - outlines the department's amendments to the Austroads Guide to Pavement Technology - Part 4K: Selection and Design of Sprayed Seals (AGTP04K), providing guidance for application of sprayed seals used on departmental projects.
- TN183 Use of High Percentages of Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) Material in Dense Graded Asphalt - provides guidance to Prequalified Asphalt Contractors on demonstrating compliance with MRTS30 Asphalt Pavements.
- TN186 Sealing in Cold Weather Conditions - provides guidance about the risks of constructing sprayed seals during cold weather conditions.
- TN190 Construction and Trafficking of High Modulus Asphalt - Assists people involved in Transport and Main Roads projects that include EME2 to understand more about the construction and trafficking of EME2, based on the experience of early projects that were monitored by Transport and Main Roads' Engineering and Technology.
- TN193 Use of recycled materials in road construction - relates to the use of recycled materials in road construction and maintenance which summaries and highlights the requirements of current Technical Specifications as well as areas of research.
- TN204 Mix design registration of plant-mixed cementitiously stabilised pavement material - outlines the process for contractors and suppliers (applicants) to apply for registration of mix designs for plant-mixed cementitiously stabilised pavement material for use on departmental projects.
- TN208 Managing Slaking and Dispersive Soil risks in transport infrastructure projects - provides guidance on the management and treatment of Slaking and Dispersive Soils to minimise the risk of issues arising during construction and underperformance of road assets in-service.
- TN213 Registration of nonstandard dense graded asphalt mixes containing bitumen adhesion agents instead of hydrated lime - provides a standard protocol for Prequalified Asphalt Contractors (PACs) to follow when submitting a non-standard dense graded asphalt mix design that includes a bitumen adhesion agent (BAA) instead of hydrated lime for registration.
- TN216 Embankment fill materials - provides guidance on the selection, classification, and use of embankment fill materials for road infrastructure projects, with a strong focus on optimising material availability and ensuring cost-effective, compliant design. It outlines considerations for identifying suitable site-won or locally sourced materials, highlights the increasing scarcity of Class A1 material and the need to prioritise its use only where essential, and summarises the performance-based criteria governing material classes under MRTS04. The note also discusses alternatives to Class A1 for embankments and subgrade applications, appropriate placement of various material types within embankment zones, and the geotechnical investigation requirements necessary to support material characterisation, design decisions, and project delivery.
- TN221 Stockpile Guidance AS 1141.3.1 - provides guidance on the required sampling technique to be used in accordance with AS 1141.3.1 Methods for sampling and testing aggregates, Method 3.1: Sampling - Aggregates.
- TN222 Sprayed Seal Crumb Rubber Modified Binders - provides guidance for practitioners to achieve quality outcomes when using Crumb Rubber Modified Binders (CRMBs) in sprayed seals.
- TN147 Recommended interim treatment for crash-damaged public domain steel beam guardrail infrastructure - gives guidance to road safety practitioners who are required to manage crash-damaged public domain steel beam guardrail infrastructure, including both longitudinal barrier and end treatments
- TN157 Underground Asset Information (TMR Surveying Standards) - provides interim advice on changes regarding investigation of Telstra underground assets
- TN162 Trench Drains - applies to the use of trench drains for the collection and conveyance of surface water from roads and areas associated with roads to Transport and Main Roads requirements
- TN165 Survey Marks (TMR Surveying Standards) - provides interim advice on standardised naming of survey marks and the correct application of feature codes to the different types of survey marks
- TN181 Guidelines for Design of Innovative Intersections 'Diverging Diamond Interchange' - provides interim advice on the geometric design methodology for Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI) Intersection treatments on the Queensland State Controlled road network
- TN188 Geometric Design of Innovative Intersections 'Displaced Right Turn' - provides advice on the geometric design methodology for Displaced Right Turn (DRT) intersection treatments aligned to the department's Road Safety Policy.
- TN199 Guidance for the design of temporary roads - Engineering and Technology Branch recognises that there may be opportunities to consider all geometric design parameters and guidance which may result in cost savings and efficiency improvements for temporary roads. This technical note therefore has been prepared based on a review of National and International design guidance as well as consideration of case study examples from previous projects to document a basis and to present opportunities for alternatives on which Design Exceptions may be considered. It also details design practices that have been applied elsewhere in Australia and Internationally which may provide support for a design exception.
- TN205 Use of extended design domain for the lateral placement of road safety barriers - provides guidance for the lateral placement (offset to batter hinge point) of road safety barriers in both greenfield and brownfield sites / retrofit projects.
- TN211 Transport Noise Management Code of Practice Volume 1 Supplementary Information - provides a series of clarifications and methodologies to supplement the information and assessment process detailed in the Transport Noise Management Code of Practice Volume 1: Road Traffic Noise.
- TN219 Design Constructability Assessments - outlines a structured process for Design Consultants (designers) engaged by the department of Transport and Main Roads to conduct constructability assessments during the planning and design of infrastructure projects.
- TN160 Vehicle Activated Signs (VAS) - sets out the guidelines for implementation of VAS including identification and assessment of potential sites, selection of sign display, determination of activation speed, sign position and support.
- TN170 Township Entry Treatments (TETs) - applies to the site assessment and installation of TETs mainly on state-controlled roads but it can be applied to local government roads where the speed differential is high.
- TN207 Planning for Safe Transport Infrastructure at Schools - Bicycle Parking - provides an interim update to the Planning for Safe Transport Infrastructure at Schools (PSTIS) guideline on bicycle parking and access requirements, to assist in the planning and design of new and upgraded schools in Queensland. This Technical Note is to be read in conjunction with the PSTIS guideline as it takes precedence over and replaces original content pertaining to bicycle parking provisions.
- TN214 Guide to Road Safety Part 2: Safer Roads Supplementary Guidance - provides QGRS technical guidance for the treatment of crashes, audio tactile lines, rest area signage, convex mirrors, and local government waste management, not found in other TMR literature. Please use Queensland Crash Reduction Factors in conjunction with this Technical Note. These two documents must be read in conjunction with Queensland Guide to Road Safety (QGRS) Part 2: Safe Roads.
- TN115 Signing and line marking for heavy vehicle interception sites - withdrawn: see Signage and line marking for heavy vehicle interception sites guideline for guidance on the installation of signs and line marking at interception sites.
- TN129 LUMS System performance specification - describes the performance specifications for the Lane Use Management System (LUMS) that apply at a system level.
- TN185 Project recognition signs - withdrawn: see Project Recognition Signs guideline for guidance on the requirements for project recognition signs, how and where they should be installed, and what they should look like.
- TN191 Reducing pedestrian delays - provides the description of treatments, investigations to complete to determine treatment effectiveness and other considerations to improve pedestrian delays for use by local government and road operators in areas of high pedestrian activity.
- TN195 Traffic Guidance Schemes worked examples - provides worked examples of the TGS development applicable for various work and road type scenarios, based on AS1742.3, AGTTM, QMUTCD, QGTTM and Guideline - Traffic management at works on roads.
- TN197 Provision of shade along paths - guides practitioners involved in transport infrastructure projects and implementing shade along paths where walking infrastructure has been provided due to pedestrian demand and activity.
- TN200 Slip base pole clamping bolt tethering system installation - provides step-by-step installation instructions to minimise the risk of harm to road users, damage to vehicles and road infrastructure.
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- Last updated
- 28 May 2026