Publication Number: FHWA-HRT-10-017
Date: September 2010

Online Courses Offer Instruction in Highway Plan Reading

Get the inside track on highway plan reading with the Transportation Curriculum Coordination Council's (TCCC) Plan Reading Series of courses. The free Web-based courses are offered in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) National Highway Institute (NHI). TCCC's members include representatives from FHWA, NHI, regional State training and certification groups, several American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials subcommittees, and industry associations. Each 1-hour course is available for scheduling at any time, offering participants maximum flexibility and convenience.

"The ability to read plans is essential for anyone involved in highway or bridge construction. The training covers basic plan reading instruction, as well as providing a more indepth level of instruction for participants seeking more information," says Christopher Newman of FHWA's Office of Asset Management. Upon completion of the training, participants will be able to understand plan sheets for highway, bridge, county road, and culvert construction and comprehend the terminology and symbols used when reading plans.

The course series consists of eight modules. Participants may register for all eight modules (Course No. FHWA-NHI-134108) or select the ones that best suit them:

• Module 1: Highway Plan Reading Basics (Course No. FHWA-NHI-134108A)-The module describes the foundational information needed to begin reading and understanding highway plans.
• Module 2: Grading Plans (Course No. FHWA-NHI-134108B)
• Module 3: Traffic Control Plans (Course No. FHWA-NHI-134108C)
• Module 4: Erosion and Sediment Control Plans (Course No. FHWA-NHI-134108D).
• Module 5: Right-of-Way Plans (Course No. FHWA-NHI-134108E).
• Module 6: County Plans (Course No. FHWA-NHI-134108F).
• Module 7: Bridge Plans (Course No. FHWA-NHI-134108G).
• Module 8: Culvert Plans (Course No. FHWA-NHI-134108H).

The training is designed for FHWA and State and local highway agency staff, as well as industry personnel.

To register for the Plan Reading Series, visit www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov/training/course_search.aspx. For more information about the course content, contact Christopher Newman at FHWA, 202-366-2023 (email: christopher.newman@fhwa.dot.gov). A list of all of NHI's Web-based courses, including many developed by the TCCC, is available on the NHI Web site at www.nhi.fhwa.dot.gov.

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