The Department of Transport and Main Roads (the department) is committed to continually reviewing and improving our technical publications to ensure we deliver best value for money and embrace the latest technological advancements.
To help you stay informed about any upcoming changes to technical publications we have provided a look ahead of proposed amendments, we have broken these into two timelines: next four months, and into the future.
Next four months (March 2025 - June 2025)
Future updates and new releases
Our Industry Update is now available in an interactive webpage format. Go direct to the information that interests you by clicking on the document type links for the relevant timeframe.
We value your feedback! Please let us know your thoughts and suggestions by contacting [email protected].
Next four months (March 2025 - June 2025)
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Harmonised Technical Specifications
- Transport and Main Roads Technical Specifications (MRTS) harmonised with Austroads Technical Specifications (ATS) will now be released as ‘combined’ documents. That means national and Queensland content is published as a complete document rather than a ‘supplement’. Technical Specifications impacted will begin with MRTS# (Title) Harmonised.
MRTS01 Introduction to Technical Specifications
- Inclusion of term, definition and applicability of ‘Record’ in departmental contracts specifically relevant to harmonised Austroads Technical Specifications in Tables 2.1 and 5.2 and Clause 5.2.
MRTS02 Provision for Traffic
- Changes will assist industry in the application and adoption of the new practices and processes as part of the Temporary Traffic Management harmonisation project.
- These Temporary Traffic Management changes will apply once published, to new projects, and will be available for use on existing projects or contracts in accordance with their contractual arrangements.
MRTS03 Drainage Structures, Retaining Structures and Slope Protections
- Updates based on feedback from stakeholders, including checks against current Standard Drawings, NACOE research reports, and enquiries and non-conformance reports (NCR) from construction sites across Queensland.
MRTS04 General Earthworks
- This update addresses several administrative changes in MRTS04, MRS04, and MRTS04.1. Additionally Figure 2.1(b) of MRS04 has been updated to correctly indicate the 1.5m measurement below the subgrade level, which was previously marked from the natural ground surface.
MRTS14 Road Furniture
- Changes will assist industry in the application and adoption of the new practices and processes as part of the Temporary Traffic Management harmonisation project.
- Temporary Traffic Management changes will apply once published, to new projects, and will be available for use on existing projects or contracts in accordance with their contractual arrangements.
MRTS18 Polymer Modified Binder (including Crumb Rubber) Harmonised
- Harmonised to ATS3110 Supply of Polymer Modified Binders Ed 2.0 June 2023.
MRTS27 Geotextiles (Separation and Filtration) Harmonised
- Harmonised to ATS2160 Geotextiles (Separation and Filtration) Ed 1.1 August 2024.
- Wherever possible, the requirements of ATS2160 have been retained, with additional Queensland specific provisions from formerly published MRTS27 Geotextiles (Separation and Filtration) incorporated into this revised document.
MRTS50 Specific Quality System Requirements
- Inclusion of term, definition and applicability of ‘Record’ in departmental contracts specifically relevant to harmonised Austroads Technical Specifications (ATS) in Clauses 8.3.1 and 8.3.5.
MRTS51 Environmental Management
- Form C in MRTS51 Appendix has been updated to require a declaration that deposition of surplus materials is work carried out for the state of Queensland and cannot be assessed by the local government planning instrument and that the local council has been informed of the work prior to the work commencing.
MRTS52 Erosion and Sediment Control
- Include reference to new accreditation program in the erosion and sediment control industry “Registered Soil Practitioner – Erosion and Sediment Control (RSP-ESC)”.
MRTS91 Conduits and Pits
- New Clause 7.8 added for High Security pits and pit lids to combat the rise in copper cable thefts around the state. This clause provides definition and guidance for suppliers where high security pits may be used on the road network.
- New work items added to MRS91 for removal of excessively hard material to align with MRS92 Traffic Signal and Road Lighting Footings, and for works associated with high security pits and hardening of concrete surrounds.
MRTS92 Traffic Signal and Road Lighting Footings
- Full review and update, in conjunction with the revision of associated Standard Drawings SD1328, SD1380, SD1381, SD1382, SD1392, SD1393, SD1395, SD1396, SD1403, SD1404, SD1429, SD1680, and SD1684.
MRTS94 Road Lighting
- Removed erroneous statement (handling and storage charges only) from Work Item 60727.
NEW MRTS215 Active Transport Counter / Classifier (ATCC)
MRTS204 Vehicle Detectors
MRTS214 Provision of Wireless Traffic Sensors (WTS)
MRTS225 Imaging
MRTS231 Road Weather Monitor (RWM) Systems
MRTS260 Temporary Variable Speed Limit Signs, and
MRTS262 Transportable Variable Message Signs
- Updated to include 3G Switch Off in Australia and remove references to 3G networks.
MRTS218 Vehicle Activated Signs (VAS)
MRTS221 Help Phones
MRTS227 Changeable Message Signs, and
MRTS251 Motor Vehicle Traffic Counter / Classifer
STANDARD DRAWINGS
SD1328 Road Lighting / ITS - Lighting / Camera Pole Anchor Cage Fabrication Details
SD1404 Traffic Signals - Mast Arm Anchor Cage Fabrication Details, and
SD1680 Traffic Signals / Road Lighting - Extension to Light Pole and Mast Arm Anchor Cages
- Revision to anchor cage Standard Drawings will provide updated, user-friendly drawings that align with current standards and requirements in the associated footings installation drawings.
SD1380 Road Lighting - Slip Base Pole and Footing Installation Details for No Crossfall
SD1381 Road Lighting - Slip Base Pole and Footing Installation Details for Crossfalls Up to and Including 1:6
SD1382 Road Lighting - Slip Base Pole and Footing Installation Details for Crossfalls Greater than 1:6 Up to and Including 1:3
SD1392 Road Lighting - Base Plate Mounted Pole and Footing Installation Details for Crossfalls Up to and Including 1:2
SD1393 Road Lighting - Base Plate Mounted Pole and Footing Installation Details for Crossfalls Greater than 1:2
SD1395 Road Lighting - Base Plate Mounted Pole Within Concrete Barrier – Footing Details and Installation of Pole
SD1396 Traffic Signals / Road Lighting - Joint Use Traffic Signal and Road Lighting Pole and Footing Installation Details
SD1403 Traffic Signals - Mast Arm and Footing Installation Details
SD1429 Road Lighting - Slip Base Pole and Footing Installation Details for Crossfalls Greater than 1:6 Up to and Including 1:3 Using Concrete Step Tread, and
SD1684 Road Lighting / ITS - Base Plate Mounted Hinged Pole Footing Installation Details for Crossfalls Up to and Including 1:2
- Revision and update of pole footings and installation Standard Drawings to align with current standards.
SD1407 Traffic Signals - Traffic Signal Terminal Panel for Joint Use Poles
SD1413 Traffic Signals - Mast Arm Traffic Signal Junction Box (Type A)
SD1420 Traffic Signals - General Arrangements
SD1425 Traffic Signals - Detector Loops Placement Details
SD1439 Traffic Signals - Traffic Signal Lantern Designations, Functions and Aiming, and
SD1670 Traffic Signals - Traffic Signal Wiring Connections
- Minor updates to title blocks to reflect review of Standard Drawings.
SD1467 Concrete Barriers - Cast-in Anchor Assembly for Thrie Beam Terminal Connector
SD1474 Steel Beam Guardrail - Installation and Setout
SD1475 Steel Beam Guardrail - Installation on Bridge and Barrier Approaches
SD1476 Steel Beam Guardrail - Terminal Components
SD1477 Steel Beam Guardrail - Posts and Blockouts, Soil and Bearing Plates, Slip Base Plate
SD1478 Steel Beam Guardrail - W Beam Anchor Bracket Delineation Unit Post on Base Plate Abraham Blockout
SD1479 Steel Beam Guardrail - Bolts, Nuts, Screws and Washers Cable Assembly with Fasteners
SD1480 Steel Beam Guardrail - Fabrication Details for W Beam Rails and Rail Components
SD1481 Steel Beam Guardrail - Fabrication Details for Thrie Beam Rails and Rail Components
SD1482 Steel Beam Guardrail - W Beam and Thrie Beam Assemblies
SD1483 Steel Beam Guardrail - Thrie Beam Layouts
SD1488 Steel Beam Guardrail - Thrie Beam Bullnose Installation and Setout
SD1489 Steel Beam Guardrail - Thrie Beam Bullnose Components
SD1490 Steel Beam Guardrail - Details for Installation of Guardrail over Culverts where Depth of Cover is Less than 1100, and
SD1491 Steel Beam Guardrail - Guardrail Attachments to existing box culverts - Assembly and Fabrication Details
- These withdrawn Standard Drawings have updated details provided in the red stamp and are accessible via Standard Drawing Superseded / Withdrawn webpage in cases where they are needed for repair and maintenance, a withdrawn watermark is placed on all drawings.
SD1469 Single Slope Concrete Barrier - Fabrication and Installation Details of Cover Plates at Road Lighting Poles in Concrete Barrier
- Updated to amend that warning plates should be the Electrical label as per Standard Drawing 1673, and M12 fastener leader text is transposed on Elevation view.
WITHDRAWN SD1484 Steel Beam Guardrail - Batter Slope Terminals 1 on 1 and Steeper - General Arrangement and Installation Details, and
WITHDRAWN SD1485 Steel Beam Guardrail - Batter Slope Terminals 1 on 1 and Steeper - Concrete Terminal Block
- Transport and Main Roads no longer permits new public domain steel beam guardrail installations and as such SD1484 and SD1485 are no longer required. In cases where these drawings are needed for repair and maintenance, a withdrawn watermarked version will remain accessible via Standard Drawing Superseded / Withdrawn webpage.
NEW SD1930 ITS - Video Analytics Active Transport Classifier
- Details the installation and configuration procedures for ATCC’s in accordance with departmental standards and practices.
MANUALS
NEW Building Information Modelling (BIM) for Intelligent Transport Systems and Electrical (ITS&E)
- The publication of BIM for ITS&E complements the suite of departmental BIM documents, including BIM Exchange Information Requirements (EIR), BIM for Transport and Main Roads Guideline and BIM for Bridges Manual to support the implementation of information modelling within the department in line with State Government BIM principles.
Materials Testing Manual (MTM)
- Test methods updated to accommodate bitumen emulsion stabilisation, stakeholder feedback, and reflect changes made in Technical Specifications.
Nuclear Gauge Testing Manual (NGTM)
- Amended test methods following stakeholder feedback.
Queensland Guide to Temporary Traffic Management (QGTTM)
Part 2: Traffic management planning
Part 3: Static worksites
Part 4: Mobile works
Part 5: Short term low impact worksites
Part 6: Field staff - implementation and operation
Part 7: Traffic controllers, and
Part 8: Processes and procedures
- Changes will assist industry in the application and adoption of the new practices and processes as part of the Temporary Traffic Management harmonisation project.
- These Temporary Traffic Management changes will apply once published, to new projects and will be available for use on existing projects or contracts in accordance with their contractual arrangements.
Queensland Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) Part 3: Traffic control for works on roads
- Changes will assist industry in the application and adoption of the new practices and processes as part of the Temporary Traffic Management harmonisation project.
- These Temporary Traffic Management changes will apply once published, to new projects and will be available for use on existing projects or contracts in accordance with their contractual arrangements.
Queensland Road Safety Technical User Volumes: (QRSTUV) Guide to Speed Management
- Clearer guidance for the determination of speed limits, and where relevant, content has been aligned with other publications to improve the process to undertake speed limit reviews.
Traffic and Road Use Management (TRUM) Volume 4: ITS and Electrical Part 5: Configuration and placement of vehicle detection sensors
- New section added defining the selection, configuration, placement, and installation of ATCCs.
GUIDELINES
NEW Guidance Note 15: Environmental Incident Management
- Industry awareness on Transport and Main Roads incident management process and expectations.
NEW Rehabilitation Technique and Treatment Prioritisation Method of Plain Concrete Pavements (PCP)
- NEW guideline to replace TN143 Rehabilitation Technique and Treatment Prioritisation Method of Plain Concrete Pavements (PCP) being withdrawn. This guideline includes current best. practice techniques and guidance for PCP assessment management.
Structural design procedure for lime stabilised subgrade, and
Structural design procedure for triple blend stabilised subbase
- Updated design method to reflect recent design and construction learnings, and align with recent Materials Testing Manual update.
Traffic Management at Works on Roads
- Changes being made will assist industry in the application and adoption of new practices and processes as part of the Temporary Traffic Management harmonisation project.
- These Temporary Traffic Management changes will apply once published, to new projects and will be available for use on existing projects or contracts in accordance with their contractual arrangements.
TECHNICAL NOTES
TN23 Design Criteria for Precast Drainage Pits
- Design life for all drainage pits, up to 3m deep shall now be 50 years and pits deeper than 3m, is now 100 years. Previously the demarcation was at 5m.
- Precast circular shape drainage pit is included.
- The requirement for penetration size related to the pipe diameter is added to avoid oversizing of the penetration.
- Design approval process provided for proprietary, and project specific pits.
- Additional requirements included for rectangular precast drainage pit manufactured with glass fibre reinforced polymer reinforcing bars.
CONTRACTS
Infrastructure Contracts
Transport Infrastructure Contract (TIC-CO, TIC-SI and TIC-DC)
Minor Infrastructure Contract (MIC-CO and MIC-SI), and
Small Scale Minor Works Contract (SSMW)
- Updated Infrastructure documents to align with the latest government policies, legislations, and stakeholder feedback.
OTHER
Display of Information on Variable Message Signs (VMS) Organisational Policy
- Updated to align with current business practice and documentation references.
EP175 Deposition of Surplus Material – Assessment Methodology
- Updated to confirm that work carried out by the contractor is work for the state and therefore exempt from assessment under local government planning schemes due to schedule 6 part 5 item 26 of the Planning Regulation 2017. However once deposition has occurred any subsequent work done by the landowner is not done by the state and assessment against the planning scheme may be required.
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Future Updates and New Releases
Technical Specifications
- MRTS24 Manufacture of Precast Concrete Culverts harmonisation and alignment to MRTS70 Concrete and Austroads Technical Specification ATS2230 Supply of Small Box Culverts.
- MRTS25 Steel Reinforced Precast Concrete Pipes harmonisation with Austroads Technical Specification ATS2210 Supply of Steel Reinforced Precast Concrete Pipes and removal of non-manufacture clauses.
- NEW MRTS53 Erosion and Sediment Control – Provisional Sum Method alternate erosion and sediment control to MRTS52 Erosion and Sediment Control, developed to provide a standardised approach to high risk (environmentally) projects using a Provisional Sum method to pay for project temporary Erosion and Sediment Control (ESC) costs.
- MRTS88 Protective Coating for New Work update to provide additional performance-based criteria, broaden the types of coatings covered and incorporate Austroads Technical Specification criteria.
- MRTS97 Mounting Structures for Roadside Equipment review and improve clarity and design based on feedback from industry to improve safety for road users.
- MRTS206 Provision of Variable Speed Limit and Lane Control Signs update to reflect emerging data communications, and revised fault management requirements.
- MRTS270 Precast Geopolymer Concrete Elements harmonisation with ATS5330 Supply of Geopolymer Concrete, which maintain links to MRTS70 Concrete.
Standard Drawings
Review for currency and alignment with other departmental documents and guidelines and industry standards for:
- SD881 Cane Railway Crossings - Asphalt Paved and Concrete
- SD1045 Revegetation - Treatment of Cut Batters
- SD1116 Subsoil Drains - Outlets and Cleanouts
- SD1178 Diversion of Water - Diversion of Water from Roadway and Table Drains
- SD1359 Culverts – Installation, Bedding and Filling / Backfilling Against / Over Culverts
- SD1446 Kerb Ramp - Ramped Kerb Crossing
- SD1447 Median and Island Crossing – Ramped and Cut-Through Treatment for Pedestrian Facilities
- SD1468 Single Slope Concrete Barrier - Extruded Median Barrier - Barrier, Reinforcing and Expansion Joint Details
- SD1615 Fauna Exclusion Fencing - Floppy Top Mesh Fence and Gate update regarding gate arrangement and maintenance.
- SD1643, SD1644, SD1647, SD1650, SD1651, SD1653, SD1654 - (Vegetation Works drawings) review regarding proposed updated to MRTS16 Landscape and Revegetation Works.
Manuals
- Boat Ramp Design Manual and MRTS300 Boat Ramps general review and updates to Clause 10.9, referenced documents and MRTS300.2 Form F.
- NEW Design Manual ITC-3 Traffic Signal Installation based on existing guidelines for Traffic Signal Design, manual incorporates Swarco ITC-3 controller design drawings to provide full and accurate information including the required endorsement.
- Drafting and Design Presentation Standards Manual (DDPSM) Volume 3: Structural Drafting Standards harmonise with the departments 2D and 3D drafting, and national standards.
- NEW Non-Transport Utility Management and Design Manual replaces TN163 Third Party Utility Infrastructure Installation in State-Controlled Roads Technical Guidelines. The manual will provide additional clarity for improved design and management of Third-Party Utility infrastructure installations to meet the departments expectations. Opportunity for consultation now available.
- Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), Part 4: Speed Controls review and update to provide practitioners with up-to-date, simplified, and fit-for-purpose guidance on the use and installation of traffic control devices for speed control.
- Queensland Guide to Traffic Management (QGTM), Part 10: Guideline Bicycle Awareness Zones general review and restructure of content to assist with document clarity and alignment with departmental documentation and guidelines.
- Structures Inspection Manual review for currency and align inspection practices with modern asset management for structures.
- TMR Surveying Standards Manual updates to align with the rapid advancement of equipment and software technology such as drones, airborne and terrestrial LIDAR, underwater scanning / sonar, methods of data capture and all forms of transport infrastructure.
Guidelines
Technical Notes
- TN211 Transport Noise Management Code of Practice Volume 1, Supplementary Information minor changes to provide clarifications to the Transport Noise Code of Practice Volume 1 Road Traffic Noise.
Contracts
Other
- Hazard Reduction Burns within the State-controlled Road Corridor clarity and explanation for external stakeholders to enable a consistent and standardised approach to bushfire management.
- Traffic and Road Use Management (TRUM) manual Volume 4, Part 3 incorporate improvements in technology and processes that impact the design and delivery of operational technologies including road lighting and intelligent transport applications.
Cycle Infrastructure updates
NEW Accepted Physical Separation Device Products Register, Application Requirements and Checklist
- New approved product register that specifically captures products approved for use physical separation devices for protected bicycle lanes and cycle tracks.
Queensland Guide to Traffic Management (QGTM), Part 10: Guideline Bicycle Awareness Zones
- Change the title to: Physical separation devices for protected bicycle lanes and cycle tracks.
- Update figures / photos with more generalised or diagrammatic figures.
- Update guidance to include language and definitions of bicycle lane separation devices.
- Design considerations for cycle track facility selection to be relocated from the Selection and design of cycle tracks guideline to QGTM Part 10.
Road Planning and Design Manual (RPDM) Vol 3, Part 3, 4, 4B, 4C, 6A
- Design considerations for cycle tracks to be relocated from the Selection and design of cycle tracks guideline to the relevant part of RPDM.
Selection and design of cycle tracks Guideline
- Change the title to: Physical separation devices for protected bicycle lanes and cycle tracks.
- Provide definition of, and reference to e-mobility in key sections of the guide, utilising consistent language and definitions.
- Include new section on Safe System Assessment.
- Relocate technical guidance from the guideline to the relevant parts of RPDM and QGTM, retaining the non-technical guidance in its current location, and establishing cross-referencing to the relocated information.
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