Cost Estimating Guide for Road 
                          Construction 
                    USDA FOREST SERVICE NORTHERN REGION ENGINEERING 
                                                                  
                                      
                                      
                                                    
                                      
                                Published 
                            September 8, 2020                   
                 PART I.            CONTENTS 
                  PART II.      DIVISION 100 - GENERAL REQUIREMENTS ................................................................................ 7 
                     GENERAL INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS ......................................................................................... 7 
                     ENGINEER'S ESTIMATE ............................................................................................................................ 12 
                        Table 1. Location Adjustment Factor for Public Works Davis-Bacon Zones ....................................... 13 
                     TIMBER SALE PURCHASER WAGE RATE ADJUSTMENTS. ........................................................................ 14 
                        Table 2. Labor Percentages ................................................................................................................. 15 
                        Table 3. Adjustment Factor for Construction Wage Rate Differentials .............................................. 16 
                  PART III.     DIVISION 150 PROJECT REQUIREMENTS ................................................................................. 17 
                     Section 151. - MOBILIZATION ................................................................................................................. 17 
                     Section 152. - CONSTRUCTION SURVEY AND STAKING .......................................................................... 18 
                        Table 4. Base cost for P-line surveys ................................................................................................... 18 
                        Table 5. P-line survey base cost adjustment factors........................................................................... 18 
                        Table 6. Base cost for new construction and major reconstruction staking ...................................... 19 
                        Table 7. P-line staking base cost adjustment factors .......................................................................... 19 
                        Table 8. Wages and Per Diem for Surveying ....................................................................................... 20 
                     Section 153. - CONTRACTOR QUALITY CONTROL ................................................................................... 20 
                     Section 154. - CONTRACTOR SAMPLING AND TESTING .......................................................................... 21 
                        Table 9. Project Field Sampling and Testing - Labor Cost ................................................................... 21 
                        Table 10. Project Field Sampling and Testing – Test Method Cost ..................................................... 22 
                     Section 156. - PUBLIC TRAFFIC ................................................................................................................ 24 
                        Table 11. Adjustment Factor for Traffic Control ................................................................................. 24 
                     Section 157. - SOIL EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL ........................................................................ 26 
                        Table 12. Costs and Percent Labor Associated With Soil Erosion and Water Pollution Control ........ 27 
                     Section 158. – WATERING FOR DUST CONTROL ..................................................................................... 29 
                        Table 13. Fixed Haul Cost ($/M Gallon and $/Ton) for a 3500 Gallon Water Truck in Idaho and 
                        Montana .............................................................................................................................................. 29 
                        Table 14. Variable Haul Cost ($/M Gallons-Mile and $/Ton-Mile) for a 3500 Gallon Water Truck in 
                        Idaho and Montana............................................................................................................................. 29 
                  PART IV.      DIVISION 200 EARTHWORK ..................................................................................................... 31 
                     Section 201. - CLEARING AND GRUBBING .............................................................................................. 31 
                        Figure 1. Clearing and Grubbing Base Rate - Idaho R/W Timber to Timber Sale Purchaser ($/Acre) 32 
                        Figure 2. Clearing and Grubbing Base Rate – Montana R/W Timber to Timber Sale Purchaser 
                        ($/Acre) ............................................................................................................................................... 33 
                              DIVISION 100 - GENERAL REQUIREMENTS - Page 1 of 122Published 9/8/2020 3:44 PM 
          Figure 3. Clearing and Grubbing Base Rate– Idaho R/W Timber to Government or Cooperator 
          ($/Acre) ............................................................................................................................................... 34 
          Figure 4. Clearing and Grubbing Base Rate – Montana R/W Timber to Government or Cooperator 
          ($/Acre) ............................................................................................................................................... 35 
          Figure 5. Equivalent Volume Using Average Diameters and Stem Spacing ........................................ 36 
          Table 15. Adjustment Factor for Percent Ground Slope ..................................................................... 37 
          Table 16. Adjustment Factor for Slash Treatment Method ................................................................ 37 
          Table 17. Adjustment Factor for Slash Treatment of Tops & Limbs, Logs, and Stumps ..................... 38 
          Table 18. Adjustment Factor for Additional Clearing Features .......................................................... 39 
          Table 19. Idaho Clearing & Grubbing $/Mile with Back Slope 3/4:1 .................................................. 41 
          Table 20. Montana Clearing & Grubbing $/Mile with Back Slope 3/4:1 ............................................. 42 
          Table 21. Idaho Clearing and Grubbing Cost per Mile with Back Slope 1:1 ........................................ 44 
          Table 22. Montana Clearing and Grubbing Cost per Mile with Back Slope 1:1 .................................. 46 
         Section 202. - ADDITIONAL CLEARING AND GRUBBING ......................................................................... 48 
          Table 23. Base Costs for Clearing and Grubbing Existing Roads ......................................................... 49 
         Section 203. - REMOVAL OF STRUCTURES AND OBSTRUCTIONS ........................................................... 49 
         Section 204. - EXCAVATION AND EMBANKMENT ................................................................................... 50 
          Table 24. Conservation of Top Soil ($/STA) ........................................................................................ 50 
          Table 25. Material Adjustment Factor ................................................................................................ 51 
          Table 26. Loading Material into Trucks ($/CY) .................................................................................... 51 
          Table 27. Scarifying ($/STA) ................................................................................................................ 52 
          Table 28. Adjustment Factor for Bench Fill Slope ............................................................................... 52 
          Table 29. Adjustment Factor for Compaction Placement Method ..................................................... 52 
          Table 30. Costs for Compaction Prior to Aggregate Base and Surfacing ............................................ 52 
          Table 31. Shaping and Finishing - Single Lane Roads without Ditch ($/STA) ...................................... 53 
          Table 32. Shaping and Finishing - Double Lane Roads without Ditch ($/STA) .................................... 53 
          Table 33. Shaping and Finishing - Single Lane Roads with Ditch ($/STA) ........................................... 53 
          Table 34. Shaping and Finishing - Double Lane Roads with Ditch ($/STA) ......................................... 53 
          Table 35. Average Roundtrip Travel Speeds Based on Road Characteristics ..................................... 58 
          Table 36. Fixed Cost per Cubic Yard and Ton for Idaho and Montana ............................................... 58 
          Table 37. Variable Haul Cost ($/Cubic Yard-Mile and $/Ton-Mile) by Truck Type for Idaho And 
          Montana .............................................................................................................................................. 59 
         Section 208. - STRUCTURE EXCAVATION AND BACKFILL FOR SELECTED MAJOR STRUCTURES ............. 60 
         Section 209. - STRUCTURE EXCAVATION AND BACKFILL ........................................................................ 60 
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                  Section 211. - ROADWAY OBLITERATION ............................................................................................... 60 
                     Table 38. Range of Costs per Mile by Closure Device and Mitigation Treatment for Road 
                     Obliteration ......................................................................................................................................... 60 
                  Section 212. - LINEAR GRADING ............................................................................................................. 61 
                     Table 39. Adjustment Factor for Additional Excavation Features ...................................................... 62 
                     Table 40. Idaho Base Excavation $/Mile for Linear Grading ............................................................... 64 
                     Table 41. Montana Base Excavation $/Mile for Linear Grading ......................................................... 65 
                     Table 42. Idaho Base Excavation $/Mile for Road Widening with Linear Grading, ¾:1 cut slope ...... 65 
                     Table 43. Idaho Base Excavation $/Mile for Road Widening with Linear Grading, 1:1 cut slope ....... 65 
                     Table 44. Montana Base Excavation $/Mile for Road Widening with Linear Grading, ¾:1 cut slope 66 
                     Table 45. Montana Base Excavation $/Mile for Road Widening with Linear Grading, 1:1 cut slope . 66 
                PART V.     DIVISION 250 SLOPE REINFORCEMENT AND RETAINING WALLS ........................................... 67 
                  Section 251. - RIPRAP .............................................................................................................................. 67 
                  Section 253. - GABIONS AND REVET MATTRESSES ................................................................................. 67 
                  Section 255. - MECHANICALLY-STABILIZED EARTH WALLS ..................................................................... 67 
                PART VI.    DIVISION 300 AGGREGATE AND BASE COURSES .................................................................... 69 
                  Section 301. – UNTREATED AGGREGATE COURSES ................................................................................ 69 
                     Table 46. Cost Range for Different Methods of Drilling and Shooting in Idaho and Montana ........... 70 
                     Table 47. Cost For Ripping In Idaho and Montana.............................................................................. 70 
                     Table 48. Cost Adjustment Factor for Gradation Other Than Grading C ............................................ 70 
                     Table 49. Cost for Crushed Pit Rock in Idaho and Montana ............................................................... 71 
                     Table 50. Cost for Crushed Quarry Rock in Idaho and Montana ........................................................ 71 
                     Table 51. Cost for Screening Rock Only in Idaho and Montana.......................................................... 71 
                     Table 52. Cost for Pit Run Rock in Idaho and Montana ...................................................................... 72 
                     Table 53. Cost for Stockpiling Rock in Idaho and Montana ................................................................ 72 
                     Table 54. Cost per Loose CY and Ton by Loading Method in Idaho and Montana ............................. 74 
                     Table 55. Cost per Loose CY and Ton for Initial Spreading in Idaho and Montana............................. 74 
                     Table 56. Cost per Loose CY And Ton for Grid Rolling in Idaho and Montana ................................... 74 
                     Table 57. Cost Per Loose CY and Ton for Grading of Aggregate Base or Surface Course in Idaho and 
                     Montana .............................................................................................................................................. 74 
                     Table 58. Cost Per Loose CY and Ton by Compaction Method in Idaho and Montana ...................... 74 
                  Section 303. - ROAD RECONDITIONING .................................................................................................. 76 
                     Table 59.  Ditch Reconditioning Costs ................................................................................................. 76 
                     Table 60. Roadbed Reconditioning Costs ........................................................................................... 76 
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