HA PartnerNet
The Traffic Systems & Signing RegistrySelect a DMRB Volume
Including amendment dated November 2011
Select a MCHW Volume
Including amendment dated November 2009
Welcome to Standards for Highways
On this site you will find many invaluable documents relating to the design, construction and maintenance of highways.
Simply use the navigation links to access the following:
The Design Manual for Roads & Bridges (DMRB)
The DMRB was introduced in 1992 in England and Wales, and subsequently in Scotland and Northern Ireland. It provides a comprehensive manual system which accommodates all current standards, advice notes and other published documents relating to the design, assessment and operation of trunk roads (including motorways).
It has been developed from a number of separate series of documents previously published by the Overseeing Organisations of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. These documents, together with later additions, have been gathered together in a consistent series of volumes within the manual to help in meeting the requirements of quality assurance procedures.
The Manual of Contract Documents for Highway Works (MCHW)
The MCHW, first published in 1992, consists of several parts which include the administrative procedures for its use, the Specification for Highway Works and its corresponding Method of Measurement. The Manual incorporates the requirements of EU legislation which are mandatory for all Public Procurement Bodies.
Interim Advice Notes (IANs)
IANs are issued by the Highways Agency from time to time. They contain specific guidance, which shall only be used in connection with works on motorways and trunk roads in England, subject to any specific implementation instructions contained within an IAN.
Whilst IANs must be read in conjunction with the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB) and Manual of Contract Documents for Highway Works (MCHW) for the above works, and may incorporate amendments or additions to documents in these manuals, they are not part of the DMRB or MCHW.
Routine Winter Service Code (RWSC)
Routine and winter service is the name for the work traditionally carried out under the name of routine and winter maintenance but is now better described as the provision of a service to the road users. The term ‘service’ also more adequately describes many of the activities traditionally referred to as routine maintenance. Elsewhere in the UK, the term "winter service" is also used and has been adopted for local roads in England. The name routine and winter service has therefore been adopted in the Code, which describes the requirements for routine and winter service activities on the trunk road network.
The Code covers the Performance Requirements for highways and structures and the operational winter service on the motorway and trunk road network. It shall be noted that nothing in the Code shall relieve or absolve the Service Provider of any of its obligations to comply with legal and legislative requirements. The Service Provider is also reminded that compliance with all relevant standards and codes of practice forms an implicit and inherent part of the Code. Much of the work is covered by lump sum duties in many Managing Agent Contractor (MAC), Maintenance or Managing Agent (MA) and Term Maintenance Contractor (TMC) contracts. Where the routine and winter service activities are not covered by a lump sum payment, the Code should be read in conjunction with the NMM for bidding, allocation and outturn of funds for these activities.
The Network Maintenance Manual (NMM)
This Network Management Manual (NMM) replaces Volumes 1 and 3 of the Trunk Road Maintenance Manual. It provides advice, some mandatory instruction and guidance on good practice for the management and provision of the routine and winter service on the trunk road network. It generally describes the processes for the management of the maintenance service including the interface between the Highways Agency, its service providers and other stakeholders.
The performance requirements for routine and winter service activities on the trunk road network are included in the Routine and Winter Service Code, referred to as "the Code", which is a replacement for Volume 2 of the Trunk Road Maintenance Manual. The Network Management Manual, which together with the Code, provides advice and guidance to enable the Service Provider to achieve the performance requirements.
Further Technical Information
Information and downloads on forthcoming DMRB/MCHW documents, Road Restraints Systems, Eurocodes, Errant Vehicles, Air Quality, Gantries & Wind Turbines.
Highways Agency PartnerNet (HA PartnerNet)
HA PartnerNet contains useful documents and helpful tools for those working in partnership with the Agency.
The Traffic Systems & Signing Registry
The TSS Plans Registry contains unpriced Highways Agency documents in the field of traffic systems and signing (tss).
The documents are prefixed with MCE, MCF, MCG, MCH, TR, TRG and TRH.
Future Documents Intro
Information on forthcoming DMRB and MCHW documents including ISBN details, date of publication and price.
Links
A collection of links to other useful sites including the Department for Transport and Highways Agency sites, a full list of Sector Schemes, the 'Traffic Signs Manual' and our publisher's website where paper and CD copies of our documents can be purchased.
Quick Links
Find out how to make sure you're seeing the latest version of the site
Further Technical Documents
All the material previously located in the ‘Quick Links’ area of this page can now be found in the new ‘Further Further Technical Information’ section.