creating surface issue

file directly from surveyor and I do the following - 'extract graphics'/'build triangles'/'load dtm features'.. and nothing..

however if I take the original survey 'select all'/'drop element'.. then 'create complex chain' with microstation commands on all the contours (a lot of time and effort).. it works.. there has got to be a better way...

help!! I have a day to create a existing surface model and layout the road...

 

T