National Roads Authority
2010 Project Management Guidelines
Phase 3
Design
A3.6 Design Report (Sample Template)
Sample Design Report (based on Design Working Papers)
Executive Summary

1.0
Brief Summary of the Key Findings of the Design Report.
Introduction & Description

Brief Description of the Scheme including an overview of scheme
development to date.

Purpose of the Design Report.

Scheme Operational Goals and Design Strategies.

Proposed Construction Procurement Method (e.g. Design-Build).

Summary of Route Selection Process including the evaluation of alternatives.

Summary of Peer Review Process, if completed.
2.0
Identification of Need

Strategic Fit and Priority within the National Road Programme.

Road Development Policy - National, Regional, and Local (reference to NDP,
T21, NRNS, NSS together with Regional and County Development Plans).

Scheme Specific Need (National Road Traffic demands, completion of interurban link, removal of national road through traffic from urban bottlenecks etc)
3.0
Traffic Modelling, Road Type & Safety

Summary of findings of Traffic Modelling Report.

Confirmation of Scheme Level of Service Requirements.

Comparison with ‘Do-Nothing’ Scenario.

Confirmation of Year of Opening and Design Year.

Forecast Traffic Flows for the Design Year.

Selection of Road Type (based on ‘Incremental Analysis’ Assessment
Report).

Summary of Safety Assessment from Project Appraisal Balance Sheet
(PABS) per the NRA Project Appraisal Guidelines.

Summary of the Road Safety Audit Stage 1 Report, including the Design
Team Response and Audit Team Acceptance.

Summary of Health & Safety Risk Assessment confirming that the Scheme
can be constructed, operated and maintained in a safe manner
Working Document
Page 1 of 5
Version 1.0 January 2010
National Roads Authority
2010 Project Management Guidelines
4.0
Phase 3
Design
Geometry (including Relaxations & Departures)

Applicable Technical Standards (DMRB).

Confirmation of Calculation / Determination of Design Speed.

Mainline Cross Section (dimensions per relevant Road Construction Detail
including side slopes and working space requirements).

Summary of Horizontal Alignments.

Summary of Vertical Alignments.

Reproduction of approved Principal Geometric Parameters Report (See
Appendix A3.1).

Confirmation of Stopping Sight Distance along the Scheme (including details
of any verge or median widening required to achieve SSD).

For single carriageways, confirmation of Full Overtaking Sight Distance
(FOSD) and calculation of Overtaking Value.

Summary of Relaxations and Departures for Standards (including approvals,
where necessary).
5.0
Strategy for Junctions & Side Roads

Overview of Junction Strategy for the scheme (as per the Approved Junction
Strategy Report)

Tabular Summary of Side Roads

Tabular Summary of geometric parameters for each side road

Tabular Summary of Interchanges (slip lanes, roundabouts etc.)

Tabular Summary of geometric parameters for each Interchange
6.0
Ground Investigation,
Optimisation
Soil
Classification
&
Earthworks
Balance

Overview of Geotechnical conditions along the scheme

Tabular Summary of Ground Investigation Contract

Overview of soil classification along the scheme based on Ground
Investigation Contract

Identification of areas of soft ground requiring infill and areas where additional
acceptable material can be sourced within the land-take.

Tabular Summary of Earthworks Balance Optimisation
Working Document
Page 2 of 5
Version 1.0 January 2010
National Roads Authority
2010 Project Management Guidelines
7.0
Phase 3
Design
Drainage, Structures & Pavement

Drainage Overview

Summary of Carriageway Drainage (including tabular summary of drainage
design parameters)

Summary of design of bridges and culverts (including a schedule of culverts)

Summary of any scheme specific flood alleviation proposals necessary to
neutralise the risk of scheme runoff in flood sensitive areas

Summary of any other drainage proposals (attenuation ponds, oil/petrol
interceptors etc.)

Summary of Principal Structures on the scheme (Road, Rail, River bridges
etc.)

Summary of Minor Structures (Culverts, Accommodation Underpasses etc.)

Where necessary, provide a justification for the provision of each structure.

Confirm that structural designs were referred to NRA Structures Unit for
comment and that these comments have been incorporated into the design.

Confirm that consents / approvals have been obtained where necessary (e.g.
OPW Section 50 consents for crossing of watercourses, Iarnród Éireann
Letter of Initial Acceptance for crossing of railways etc.)

Confirmation of pavement type (flexible, rigid or composite)

Pavement design load (million standard axles) and Design life (years)

Tabular Summary of pavement design for mainline, side roads, slip roads,
junctions and interchanges
8.0
Services, Land Use & Accommodation Works

Overview of Service Conflicts along the scheme

Tabular Summary of service conflicts for each of the principal service
providers (ESB, telecom, Bord Gais etc.) together with a recommendation on
diversion of services

Summary of Land Acquisition Requirements for the Scheme

Summary of Land use, affected landowners and requirements to acquire
residential properties and/or other buildings

Tabular Summary of Proposed Accommodation Works including accesses,
Underpasses, access tracks etc.
Working Document
Page 3 of 5
Version 1.0 January 2010
National Roads Authority
2010 Project Management Guidelines
9.0
Phase 3
Design
Cost Estimation

Summary of Scheme Base Cost and Total Scheme Budget (including the TSB
for the Main Construction Contract element of the scheme) determined in
accordance with the NRA Cost Management Manual

Confirmation that a Preliminary Risk Analysis Report has been prepared for
the Scheme
10.0
Economic Assessment

Where necessary, re-iterate the rationale for selecting this route if it did not
generate the most economical Cost-Benefit Analysis results (Benefit to Cost
Ratio) during the Route Selection Process in Phase 2

Overview and Tabular Summary of Results of Cost-Benefit Analysis carried
out in accordance with the NRA Project Appraisal Guidelines

Confirmation that CBA Results were certified by NRA Strategic Planning Unit
11.0
Conclusions & Recommendations

Confirmation that the scheme will meet NRA requirements and that the Need
for the Scheme has been established

Confirmation that the scheme as designed will be able to cater for forecast
Design Year traffic volumes

Confirmation that the scheme will bring about a reduction in the frequency and
severity of accidents

Confirmation that the scheme has been designed in accordance with
applicable standards and in accordance with policy documents

Confirmation that the Cost-Benefit Analysis has shown that the scheme is
economically viable and a worthwhile project to progress

Recommendation that the Scheme as described in this Design Report be
approved by the NRA so that it will form the basis for the Land Acquisition and
statutory processes to follow.
Working Document
Page 4 of 5
Version 1.0 January 2010
National Roads Authority
2010 Project Management Guidelines
Phase 3
Design
Appendices

Copy of Approved Junction Strategy Report

Copy of Road Safety Audit Stage 1 Report

Copy of Preliminary Structures Reports together with approvals and consents
as necessary

Copy of approval of NRA Project Appraisal Deliverables from NRA Strategic
Planning Unit

Copy of outcome of Peer Review Process including copy of Design Team
Response, if required.

Copy of Cost-Benefit Analysis Report

Drawings
Working Document
Page 5 of 5
Version 1.0 January 2010