This guide was commissioned by the Quality Services Civil Engineering Division of the Highways Agency (HA) and has been prepared for those active in the bridge engineering industry. The need for a bridge detailing guide was identified by an earlier HNCIRIA research project on bridge buildability.

In particular, guidance is provided for engineers and technicians engaged in the preparation and development of details for highway and accommodation bridges, subways, culverts and retaining walls. Thus the guide concentrates on the detailing issues that follow conceptual and analytical design. The scope is further limited to spans up to 60 m and, in the case of steelwork details, to steel
girderkoncrete slab composite construction.

Details selected for the guide represent basic principles that have proved to be reliable in everyday use in terms of durability and ease of construction, inspection, maintenance and repair. Explanatory notes emphasizing the principles and issues involved are provided. However, the guide is intended as a live document and will be revised and extended as a result of feedback by the industry. A formal feedback procedure is included.

The guide is based on research in the UK and internationally, and the selected details have been subject to wide review by practitioners within the industry. In cases where there were differences of opinion the preferred details represent a majority view