Road Construction Practice & Procedures Pt. 1 RRET 3310

Upon successful completion, the student will be able to:

Module 1 - Introduction: Potential Impact of Forest Roads on the Environment

• Describe the importance of forest roads.
• Describe differences between types of forest roads.
• Describe the general dynamics of landslides and surface erosion.
• Describe the potential impact of forest road construction on:
• Water quality.
• Fisheries.
• Wildlife.

Module 2 - Project Management

• Describe the steps involved in the road development part of Integrated Resource Planning.
• Describe other types of forest land occupation that will require pre-approval for a development plan.
• Describe three methods of project scheduling.
• Describe the components of a cost estimate.
• Describe the various forms of construction contract.
• Identify sources of equipment performance data.

Module 3 - Clearing, Grubbing and Stripping

• Describe falling techniques and the methods and equipment used to carry out clearing, grubbing and stripping operations.
• Discuss the use of woody material for corduroying.
• Describe and discuss the methods and equipment used to carry out log decking and removal, slash and debris disposal and the factors affecting the choice(s) between:
• Burning,
• Burying,
• Spreading within the right-of-way.
• Mark the appropriate minimum clearing width boundaries employing the Ministry of Forests typical roadway cross-section.
• Calculate the right-of-way width to be stripped to contain the road prism.
• Identify the site-specific conditions that can make 'overlanding' an appropriate construction technique.
• Describe the method(s) of 'overlanding.'
• Describe the equipment used in 'overlanding.'

Module 4 - Construction Survey

• Describe methods to establish sufficient ground control for construction accuracy, efficient, and cost effectiveness.
• Describe the different levels of ground control appropriate for site-specific conditions.
• Identify the components of road construction plans and profiles.

Module 5 - Subgrade Construction

• Describe the steps in forest road subgrade construction including appropriate techniques and equipment to minimize impact on the environment within given constraints imposed by terrain, geology and microclimate.
• Define the types and engineering characteristics of soil and rock materials.
• Describe road benching techniques and the criteria that call for each including:
• Balanced benching with stable side cast fill slopes;
• Full benching/end hauling;
• Full benching/dispersed or scattered fills on downslope side; and
• Full benching/stable side cast fill slopes.
• Describe why over-steepened sidecast may create problems.
• Describe field conditions that call for different rock work techniques and the appropriate equipment to use (i.e., rippers, rock breakers).
• Describe drill and blast techniques.
• Describe criteria used in selection of borrow pits and quarries.
• Describe excavation waste and the criteria used in disposal (storage sites).
• Define the natural angle of repose of various construction materials.
• Describe the requirements for rip-rap.
• Describe commonly used rip-rapping techniques.
• Describe the need for compaction.
• Describe the methods and equipment appropriate for compaction using different classes of material.
• Identify where compaction techniques would be appropriate during primary and secondary operations.
• Describe methods of fill placement for non-compacted fills.
• Identify problems with sidecast slopes and fills.

Effective as of Fall 2003