Roadway Construction
During installation of traffic loops in pavement, which three statements apply prior to and during installation of loop wires (Choose 3)
A. Do not allow vehicles traffic over open cut?
B. Do not overlap saw cuts at the corner
C. Thoroughly clean the saw cut of foreign material
D. Use a plastic sleeve where loop wire crosses a joint
A)
C)
D)
What are two operations that require continuous inspection? (Choose 2)
A. Driving Piles
B. Painting structural steel
C. Tightening high steel bolts
D. Tying reinforcing steel
A)
C)
Job related complaints from property owners adjacent to the project should be mitigated by whom?
A. Contractor
B. Engineer in Charge
C. Inspector
D. Municipality
D).
When reviewing a traffic control plan, which element is most critical for nighttime work?
A. Type of aggregate used
B. Reflective sheeting and lighting
C. Pavement cross slope
D. Concrete air content
B — Reflective sheeting and lighting
Night work depends on visibility for both workers and motorists.
The invert of the sewer drops 1.2 feet in a horizontal distance of 250LF. What is the slope?
A) 0.0048%
B) 0.040%
C) 0.40%
D) 0.48%
D) 0.48%
1.2' / 250' = 0.0048 .... x 100 = .48%
During Stage construction while installing drainage, the contractor must complete two of the following tasks?
A. Bulk Head the pipe until system is complete
B. Complete the entire system before it rains
C. Maintain existing drainage system until the new system is functional
D. Provide temporary connections as needed to maintain the existing system
C)
D)
Concrete pavement is being placed and the air content tests at 3.0%. The specification requires 5% ± 1%. What should the inspector do?
A. Accept if slump is correct
B. Allow placement and note the deficiency
C. Require adjustment before placement continues
D. Increase curing compound application
C — Require adjustment before placement continues
3% is outside the 4–6% allowable range. That concrete will not be durable.
Prior to the fabricated structural steel being delivered, it was determined that the girder would not fit by 3/8". How should be this corrected?
A.RFI sent to designer
B. Speak to Municipality
C. Change onsite dimensions to make it work
D. Issue field memo
A)
Which of the following is the inspector’s best defense in the event of a claim?
A. Verbal agreements
B. Photographs only
C. Accurate and timely documentation
D. Contractor daily reports
C — Accurate and timely documentation
If it’s not written down, it didn’t happen.
2. Earthwork Volume
An embankment section is 300 ft long, 30 ft wide, and 2.5 ft deep.
a) What is the volume in cubic feet?
b) What is the volume in cubic yards?
a) Cubic feet:
300 × 30 × 2.5 = 22,500 ft³
b) Cubic yards:
22,500 ÷ 27 = 833.3 CY
Failed lope is regraded to help stabilize the slope. What is the main purpose of regrading?
A. Add Fill at the top of the slope
B. Reduce concentrated flow
C. Remove soil at the top of the slope
D. Remove vegetation
B).
Which test verifies the strength of concrete pavement?
A. Slump test
B. Air content test
C. Compressive strength test
D. Unit weight test
C — Compressive strength test
That’s what determines pavement strength.
A wage rate interview is required to be conducted, but the laborer doesn't speak English. How should the inspector handle this situation?
A. Speak with the Superintendent to help with the communication issue
B. Skip the laborer and go to someone else
C. Reach out a state department translator
D. Fill the paperwork to the best of your ability and use information gathered on the Certified payroll to fill in the remaining info needed.
C)
A traffic control setup for a lane closure meets the MUTCD spacing requirements, but queue lengths are forming beyond the advance warning area. What is the most appropriate inspector action?
A. Do nothing since MUTCD spacing is met
B. Shut down the lane closure immediately
C. Recommend adjustments to improve traffic flow
D. Issue a stop-work order
C — Recommend adjustments to improve traffic flow
Meeting MUTCD spacing doesn’t mean traffic is functioning safely. Adjustments are warranted.
Concrete Pavement Quantity
A concrete pavement slab is 500 ft long, 24 ft wide, and 10 inches thick.
How many cubic yards of concrete are required?
Thickness = 10 in = 0.833 ft
Volume = 500 × 24 × 0.833 = 9,996 ft³
CY = 9,996 ÷ 27 = 370.2 CY
In a Homogenous clay dam, a 2' wide vertical chimney is drain is to be installed. A geofabric is to be placed to prevent clogging of the drain. Where should the geofabric go?
A.at the top of the chimney drain
B. Center of the chimney drain
C. Downstream face of the chimney drain
D. Upstream face of the chimney drain
D) upstream face of the chimney drain
Concrete pavement is being placed during hot weather. Slump is within tolerance, but air content is consistently testing at 6.8% when the spec requires 5% ±1%. What is the most appropriate response?
A. Accept because high air improves freeze-thaw resistance
B. Require adjustment to bring air content within tolerance
C. Allow placement but increase curing time
D. Reject only if compressive strength fails later
B — Require adjustment to bring air content within tolerance
6.8% is outside the allowed 4–6% range. Even “better durability” is not a valid reason to ignore specs.
During embankment construction, lifts should be compacted in layers not exceeding the thickness specified primarily to ensure:
A. Faster production
B. Uniform moisture distribution
C. Proper density throughout the lift
D. Reduced fuel usage
C — Proper density throughout the lift
Too-thick lifts won’t compact uniformly.
A contractor proposes placing embankment fill with moisture content 4% above optimum. The compaction test results show density is barely meeting minimum requirements. Which is the best engineering judgment?
A. Accept because density meets spec
B. Reject because moisture content is outside typical tolerance
C. Allow placement with additional roller passes
D. Accept only if the engineer approves
D — Accept only if the engineer approves
Density barely passing with moisture far above optimum is a risk. Inspector cannot approve — must elevate
Density Compliance
A soil sample has:
• Wet weight = 3,600 g
• Mold volume = 0.1 ft³
• Moisture content = 12%
If the spec requires ≥ 110 pcf, does it pass?
Wet density = 3,600 g ÷ 0.1 ft³ = 36,000 g/ft³
Convert to lb:
36,000 ÷ 454 = 79.3 lb/ft³ (wet)
Dry density = 79.3 ÷ (1 + 0.12) = 70.8 pcf
Spec = 110 pcf → FAIL
When checking cross slope with a level and ruler, the inspector is verifying compliance with:
A. Horizontal alignment
B. Vertical alignment
C. Superelevation and drainage
D. Pavement thickness
C — Superelevation and drainage
Cross slope controls water runoff and curve safety.
A contractor wants to change aggregate source due to plant shortages. The material appears visually similar. What must occur before the material is used?
A. Visual inspection only
B. Field density testing
C. Engineer approval with testing
D. Contractor certification
C — Engineer approval with testing
Material source changes require formal approval and verification.
An inspector observes segregation in the mat behind the screed. The contractor states that the mix design was approved and blames the plant. Which is the inspector’s most correct action?
A. Order immediate shutdown of paving operations
B. Require corrective action to placement methods
C. Accept the work since the design is approved
D. Reject the entire day’s production
B — Require corrective action to placement methods
Segregation is often caused by handling and placement, not mix design alone.
A pavement section meets thickness and density but exhibits low skid resistance in testing. What is the inspector’s best recommendation?
A. Accept because structural requirements are met
B. Require surface treatment or corrective action
C. Ignore because skid resistance changes over time
D. Reduce payment only
B — Require surface treatment or corrective action
Skid resistance is a safety issue even if structure is fine.
Asphalt Pay Quantity
An asphalt surface course is placed:
• Length = 2,000 ft
• Width = 24 ft
• Thickness = 1.5 inches
• Density = 145 lb/ft³
How many tons should be paid?
Thickness = 1.5 in = 0.125 ft
Volume = 2,000 × 24 × 0.125 = 6,000 ft³
Weight = 6,000 × 145 = 870,000 lb
Tons = 870,000 ÷ 2,000 = 435 tons