The department has full power, in conformity with the rules and regulations made or to be made by any officer or agency of the federal government authorized to make rules under any act of congress granting funds for the construction of roads, or rules made or to be made by the department, to make all plans and specifications for the building of each particular road or bridge to be constructed under its direction, to make all contracts for the construction of the road or bridge, and to supervise and superintend the construction of the road or bridge.