2123.01 DESCRIPTION.
In general, construction of earth shoulders for pavements and bases relates to the earthwork above subgrade elevation, adjacent to the sides of pavement or base, but may involve minor or major reshaping and replacement of embankment material. The work shall consist of construction or finishing of earth shoulders by placement and consolidation of suitable materials adjacent to a previously constructed pavement or base, as shown in the contract documents, and placing in an acceptable condition any other sections of right-of-way disturbed by operations of the Contractor.

On all projects for which an appreciable quantity of shoulder work or regrading adjacent to pavement is involved, an item or items for Earth Shoulder Construction or Earth Shoulder Finishing will be provided as described herein. This specification will not apply to Rebuilding Shoulders specified in Article 2213.12 or to Shoulders specified in Article 2302.09.

2123.02 CONSTRUCTION.
Unless otherwise specified, material placed during shoulder operations at elevations more than 6 inches (150 mm) below subgrade elevation shall be treated as embankment construction. Material deposited above an elevation 6 inches (150 mm) below subgrade elevation shall be select treatment materials of Article 2102.06, A, 1, if available and coordinated with the Engineer, or suitable soils of Article 2102.06, A, 2. Materials shall not be unsuitable soils of Article 2102.06, A, 3, or topsoils. Earth used shall be selected so as to be reasonably free of roots, granular material, rocks with dimensions greater than approximately 2 inches (50 mm) in the top 3 inches (75 mm), or other materials which will not form a good seedbed. In no case shall shoulder material be deposited on pavement or base.

The material more than 3 inches (80 mm) below the upper edge of pavement or base shall be spread in uniform layers not more than 6 inches (150 mm) in loose thickness and rolled at least three times. The final 3 inch (80 mm) layer need not be rolled except for 1 foot (0.3 m) adjacent to the pavement or base. Where the width of shoulder will permit, a roller meeting the requirements of Article 2001.05, C, or Article 2001.05, D, shall be used. The Engineer may permit use of other rollers or other compactive methods that will produce equivalent results. Where the width of shoulder is less than 6 feet (1.8 m), wheels of pneumatic tired equipment may be used in lieu of the roller. Particular care shall be taken to assure thorough compaction against and adjacent to the edge of the base or pavement, and wheels of pneumatic tired equipment may be used for this purpose.

When unpaved side roads, drives, or entrances extend through the shoulder area, the side roads, drives, and entrances shall be excavated or filled with earth to the extent necessary to provide a suitable approach with the design shoulder slope, as directed by the Engineer. When the contract item for shoulders is Earth Shoulder Construction, the Contractor will not be required to carry the operations beyond the outside shoulder line for a distance farther than 1 foot (250 mm) for each 1/2 inch (10 mm) of the total combined depth of pavement or base, or both.

If the tool or machine used in finishing the shoulder produces a groove in the earth at the edge of the pavement or base, such groove shall be carefully filled and thoroughly compacted.

The Contractor's attention is directed to Article 1105.12 and Article 2102.12 for restrictions on use of heavy equipment.

Shouldering operations shall be commenced when the pavement or base has attained the age requirements for opening to the Contractor, unless the Engineer specifically advises the Contractor to delay starting, pending strength requirements or satisfactory surface conditions. Adequate organization and equipment shall be assigned to this work so that the major portion of shouldering work may be completed within 6 working days after the pavement or base is released by the Engineer to the Contractor for shoulder work.

The time for opening pavements and bases to the Contractor will be not less than that provided in Division 23, except that, in addition to age requirements, Class A, C, or M PCC must show a flexural strength of 500 psi (3.5 MPa) or more and Class B PCC placed after September 15 shall show a flexural strength of 400 psi (2.8 MPa) or more.

2123.03 FINISHING.
After earth shoulders have been compacted, they shall be shaped to the specified cross section and smoothed to a condition acceptable to the Engineer. The Contractor shall also smooth and finish any earth surfaces which have been constructed under the contract and shall restore to an acceptable condition any sections of right-of-way which have been disturbed by the operations.

2123.04 METHOD OF MEASUREMENT.
Contracts involving shoulder work will contain either items for both excavated material in cubic yards (cubic meters) and earth shoulder finishing or a single item for earth shoulder construction.

A. Earth Shoulder Finishing.
The quantity of Earth Shoulder Finishing, in stations (meters) along each edge of the pavement, will be the quantity shown in the contract documents.

The Engineer will measure material excavated involved with earthwork finishing and shoulders according to Article 2102.13. Unless otherwise provided in the contract documents, overhaul will be measured as provided in Article 2108.02.

B. Earth Shoulder Construction.
The quantity of Earth Shoulder Construction, in stations (meters) along each edge of the pavement, will be the quantity shown in the contract documents.

For shoulders built adjacent to paved, intersecting highways, measurement along the edge of pavement or base will terminate at the point where the intersecting highway shoulder merges with the shoulder of the road under construction. Measurement will then be continued from this merging point along the shoulder line of the intersecting highway and continued to a point where shoulder work under the current contract is terminated. There shall be no overlapping or duplication in these measurements.

Shoulder work in connection with raised, unpaved medians will be measured and computed on the basis of a single measurement for the length of the median.

For work done in conjunction with shoulders adjacent to farm drives, approaches, and unpaved, intersecting roads, additional measurement will not be made for shoulders along the drive, approach, or intersecting road, nor will any deduction be made in the measurement along the edge of pavement or base.

Shoulder work in connection with unpaved islands will be considered incidental to island construction and will not be measured for payment.

For shoulder work completed in conjunction with paved driveways and entrances, additional measurements will not be made for shoulders built along the drive or entrance unless it is more than 25 feet (8 m) in length. If more than 25 feet (8 m) in length, measurements will be made from edge of pavement to the point of shoulder work termination. The width of drives or entrances along the pavement edge will not be measured for payment. Deductions or additional measurements will not be made for unpaved driveways or entrances.

When all or a portion of the work is done under general traffic, measurements or payment will not be made for traffic control, decreased production, or other items directly related to this traffic.

2123.05 BASIS OF PAYMENT.

A. Earth Shoulder Finishing.
The Contractor will be paid the contract unit price for excavation per cubic yard (cubic meter), as provided in Article 2102.14, A; and for Earth Shoulder Finishing per station (meter). Unless the contract provides otherwise, overhaul will be paid for at the contract unit price per station yard (cubic meter per metric station). These payments shall be full compensation for all work of building shoulders, including any costs caused by traffic.

B. Earth Shoulder Construction.
The Contractor will be paid the contract unit price for Earth Shoulder Construction per station (meter). This payment shall be full compensation for all costs including the cost of excavating, hauling, placing, compacting, rebuilding approaches, finishing work, and costs caused by traffic.