262 Retaining Walls - 262.1 General - Procedure to develop retaining wall plans

Oct 24, 2026

Chapter 262.1 outlines procedures for developing retaining wall plans and applying them alongside supporting standards and manuals. It directs designers and engineers to coordinate with site-specific geotechnical information to select an appropriate wall type and requirements, including maintenance area provisions for walls over 5 feet. It also specifies plan submittal workflows for non-proprietary versus proprietary systems, shop drawing requirements, and when additional analyses are required for modifications to existing MSE walls.

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262 Retaining Walls

262.1 General

262.2 Retaining Wall Plans Submittal Procedures

262.2.1 Non-Proprietary Retaining Walls

262 Retaining Walls 262.1 General This chapter describes the procedure to be used in the development of retaining wall plans. This chapter should be used in conjunction with the Structures Design Guidelines (SDG), the Structures Detailing Manual (SDM) , and the applicable Standard Plans Instructions (SPI) . See FDM 215 for guidance on roadside barrier requirements and the SDG, Chapter 6 for retaining wall mounted traffic railing requirements. See FDM 222 for pedestrian and bicycle rail requirements. See the SDG for the policy on retaining wall surface finishes. Precast walls other than Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) walls should be considered as an alternate when sufficient room for soil reinforcement is not available. Standard Plans, Index 400 Series, 455 Series, 548 Series, and Indexes 521-600 through 521-640 contain general notes and common details for retaining walls. See the applicable SPI for information on the use of these standards. Using the site-specific geotechnical information, the structures Engineer of Record (EOR), in cooperation with the Geotechnical Engineer, will determine the appropriate wall type and its requirements. See the SDG , Chapter 3 for the Permanent Retaining Wall Selection Process. For retaining walls greater than 5 feet in height, provide a 10-foot maintenance area (1:10 or flatter) in front of the wall face with suitable access for maintenance vehicles. See SDG Chapter 3 for information regarding partial height walls. See FDM 210.6 for additional roadside slope information. The following sections refer to the structures plans submittal procedure. For projects where there are no bridges, the roadway EOR must adjust the procedure as required for the roadway project. 262.2 Retaining Wall Plans Submittal Procedures On projects with retaining wall types not listed on the Approved Product List (APL)(C-I-P wall systems , permanent concrete and steel sheet pile walls, soldier pile walls, non-proprietary precast wall systems, complex wall systems, or project specific designs), the complete wall design and details are included in the plans by the EOR. On projects with proprietary retaining wall systems listed on the APL , the EOR provides the Wall Control Drawings and the appropriate wall systems Data Tables in the plans. The EOR selects which FDOT Wall Type (see SDG, Chapter 3) is appropriate for the project and places this information in the notes associated with the Data Tables. The contractor then selects the APL listed retaining wall system to build based on the allowable wall types shown in the notes associated with the Data Tables and on the Standard Plans. Proprietary retaining walls require shop drawings in accordance with FDM 152. Proprietary retaining wall design plans are not required in the contract plans for normal wall projects (see FDM 262.2.2) . If the proprietary walls are two-phased, include generic details for attaching the permanent facing (second phase) to the primary reinforcement in the contract plans. If spatial limitations require project specific details, or the wall is subject to unusual geometric or topographic features, include project-specific details in the contract plans. If the proprietary wall is experimental, it is required to have fully detailed design plans in the contract plans (see FDM 262.2.3) . Provide an analysis with the 60% Structures Plans submittal meeting the requirements of SDG, Chapter 77 when an existing MSE wall with metallic soil reinforcement will be widened or modified on a construction project and the existing soil reinforcement provides resistance for the proposed configuration. For wall projects without bridges, provide the analysis with the Phase II Submittal. | Modification for Non-Conventional Projects: | | --- | | Delete the above paragraph and replace with the following:
Unless otherwise shown in the RFP, provide an analysis with the 90% Submittal meeting the requirements of SDG, Chapter 7 when an existing

FAQs

How are retaining wall plan procedures coordinated across related design references?

The chapter requires use of the retaining wall plan development procedure in conjunction with the Structures Design Guidelines (SDG), the Structures Detailing Manual (SDM), and applicable Standard Plans Instructions (SPI). It also points to specific references for roadside barriers, mounted traffic railing, pedestrian and bicycle rails, and surface finish policy.

When should an alternate retaining wall type (such as precast) be considered?

Precast walls other than Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) walls should be considered as an alternate when sufficient room for soil reinforcement is not available.

What are key differences in submittal requirements for proprietary versus non-proprietary retaining wall systems?

For non-proprietary wall projects, the complete wall design and details are included in the plans by the EOR. For proprietary systems listed on the APL, the EOR provides Wall Control Drawings and wall systems Data Tables, the contractor selects an APL-listed wall system to build, and proprietary retaining walls require shop drawings in accordance with FDM 152.

Oct 24, 2026

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