Modernization and Updates to the AASHTO Guide Specifications for Highway Construction

The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Guide Specifications for Highway Construction (Guide Specs) provides an important national resource for transportation agencies by promoting consistency in construction specifications, methods of measurement, basis of payment, and testing procedures. The technical content of the Guide Specs was last updated and published in 2020 through NCHRP Project 20-07, which primarily focused on adding new sections rather than performing a comprehensive revision. The previous full edition was published in 2009. Since that time, significant changes have occurred in highway construction technology, safety, contracting methods, and regulatory practices. Many contracting options beyond the traditional design-bid-build method are increasingly being used. At the same time, technological advances such as integrated digital workflows and digital ticketing are becoming more common, and performance-related specifications such as balanced mix design, performance engineered mixes, and nondestructive testing (NDT) acceptance procedures are continuing to evolve. As these technologies and practices advance, it is imperative that the Guide Specs be modernized to ensure they remain technically accurate, relevant, and compatible with current industry practices. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this research is to comprehensively update and expand the AASHTO Guide Specs.

• Record URL:
  • http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=6038

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Proposed
• Funding: $800,000.00
• Contract Numbers:

  10-156

• Sponsor Organizations:

  National Cooperative Highway Research Program

  Transportation Research Board
  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

  444 North Capitol Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Project Managers:

  Li, Zhiye

• Start Date: 20261001
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Contracting; Guidelines; Road construction; Technological innovations
• Identifier Terms: AASHTO Guide Specifications
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Construction; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01991793
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Research Board
• Contract Numbers: 10-156
• Files: TRB, RIP
• Created Date: Jun 3 2026 11:43AM