FOREWORD: The Federal Highways Administration Technical Manual for Design and Construction of Road Tunnels—Civil Elements has been published to provide guidelines and recommendations for planning, design, construction, and structural rehabilitation and repair of the civil elements of road tunnels, including cut-and-cover tunnels, mined and bored tunnels, immersed tunnels, and jacked box tunnels. The latest edition of the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Design Specifications and the AASHTO LRFD Bridge Construction Specifications are used to the greatest extent applicable in the design examples. This Manual focuses primarily on the civil elements of design and construction of road tunnels. It is the intent of FHWA to collaborate with AASHTO to further develop manuals for the design and construction of other key tunnel elements, such as ventilation; lighting; fire life safety; and mechanical, electrical, and control systems.

FHWA intends to work with road tunnel owners in developing a manual on the maintenance, operation, and inspection of road tunnels. This Manual is expected to expand on the two currently available FHWA publications: 1) Highway and Rail Transit Tunnel Inspection Manual and 2) Highway and Rail Transit Tunnel Maintenance and Rehabilitation Manual.