Maintenance Manual
The Maintenance Manual provides maintenance personnel with procedures and guidelines for maintaining the highway system in Washington State. It focuses on equipment, materials, facilities, techniques, and other information to carry out maintenance activities of the department. This manual does not establish absolute standards but provides uniform operating procedures and performance guidelines.
Individual Chapters
Chapter 1 Emergency Procedures (PDF 107KB)
Chapter 2 Work Zone Traffic Control and Safety (PDF 334KB)
Chapter 3 Pavement Patching & Repair (PDF 452KB)
Chapter 4 Drainage (PDF 181KB)
Chapter 5 Maintenance of Structures (PDF 268KB)
Chapter 6 Roadside Management (PDF 1.6MB)
Chapter 7 Snow and Ice Control (PDF 276KB)
Chapter 8 Traffic Services (PDF 285KB)
Chapter 9 Electrical System Maintenance (PDF 172KB)
Chapter 10 Miscellaneous (PDF 252KB)
Chapter 11 Maintenance and Design Coordination (PDF 252KB)
Appendix A (PDF 2.3MB)
Appendix B (PDF 293KB)
Revision History
May 2023
March 2021
September 2020
March 2020
March 2020
April 2019
June 2017
April 2017
August 2013
October 2010
February 2008
July 2007
January 2007
February 2005
September 2004
March 2002
Slow down – lives are on the line.
In 2023, speeding continued to be a top reason for work zone crashes.
Even one life lost is too many.
Fatal work zone crashes doubled in 2023 - Washington had 10 fatal work zone crashes on state roads.
It's in EVERYONE’S best interest.
95% of people hurt in work zones are drivers, their passengers or passing pedestrians, not just our road crews.