5 CONSTRUCTION A. INTRODUCTION TO CONSTRUCTION The construction phase of a road project is when planning and design decisions are carried out on the ground. To achieve the intended road standard, and to cause minimal impact to the environment, each phase of road construction should be conducted according to the formulated plans. Improper execution of plans, no matter how well designed, can result in a poorly constructed road that causes serious impact to the watershed and environment. Such substandard results are most often caused by untrained supervisors or unskilled, inexperienced operators rather than inadequate design. Thus, the skill and experience of supervisors and equipment operators selected to complete the road project will play a large part in determining its success. Construction should always include some B. SELECTING CONTRACTORS degree of inspection and quality control. Plans and designs may need to be modified Contractors or in-house construction crews during construction as changing conditions can make or break a road construction project are encountered in the field. Minor changes no matter how good the original design and in the proposed work can be accomplished layout. The job can be as simple as a low in the field by experienced supervisors and standard rural access road to one or more equipment operators. However, substantial properties, or as complex as a forest or ranch changes in road alignment or in road and road built across steep topography for land and drainage design should only be made by resource management purposes. To ensure qualified personnel, and may require additional a quality construction project you should permitting from the regulatory agencies. have qualified and experienced supervi- sors and construction crews, as well as the proper heavy equipment for the job. 164 CHAPTER 5 Reliable, high quality, cost-effective construc- ■■ The contractor has the required types tion crews can be secured by contract in of equipment needed and specified for the local market, or they may be part of an this particular job, including the size of in-house equipment crew the landowner or land the equipment, its features and specific manager employs to manage their properties. capabilities, or can easily rent it. A high quality contractor or equipment crew will have a number of attributes to look for: ■■ Their equipment is modern and well main- tained; it does not leak petroleum fluids. ■■ The contractor is financially solvent and able to perform the work and be paid ■■ They have experience building or reconstruct- incrementally for work completed. ing similar roads thorough similar terrain. ■■ They are able to secure a performance bond ■■ They have experience successfully complet- for the work (if needed), and they maintain ing the specific design work that is called or can obtain all other licenses and insur- for or expected on the proposed project. ances that may be required or desired. In applying for the job, contractors should be ■■ The contractor and their operators have required to provide professional references an excellent reputation within the local for similar work they have performed for contractor market, or internally within other clients. Frequently, word-of-mouth can the organization where they work; they provide some useful information about local are considered the “go-to” contrac- contractors. Regardless, you should seek both tors and operators for this type of job. a qualifications statement and cost bids for the work you are requesting. In the qualifica- ■■ The contractor and their employees are team- tions statement you should request a list of players that work well together, are willing names, qualifications and experience of their and able to take instruction, and can follow key supervisory and operator personnel includ- plans and specifications prepared by others. ing a list of recent, comparable projects they have completed. Check the contractor licensing ■■ The contractor is generally known to be board to see if there is a history of violations. hard working and to complete their project work on-time and within budget; their rates In addition, you may choose to list what you are competitive within the local market. believe to be the desired or minimum heavy equipment specifications required for this ■■ They have experienced supervisors and equip- project, and ask the contractor to list the equip- ment operators that have been assigned ment they propose to use. The equipment list to this particular job for its duration. should identify the make, model and year of each piece of heavy equipment they propose ■■ The operators are trained and experi- to use, its specifications and attachments, and enced using the same type of equip- any other performance information deemed ment as is needed for this job, and relevant (e.g., a dozer with 6-way blade and each operator is experienced using rear-mounted hydraulic rippers). Make sure they more than one type of heavy equip- also have all the secondary personnel and equip- ment (especially for the key equipment ment that will be necessary such as laborers, types (e.g., excavators and dozers). straw blowers, portable vibratory compac- tors, water pumps, emergency spill response CONSTRUCTION 165 kits (for accidental fuel spills), fire control obtain them, could take a year or more to equipment and accident prevention plans. acquire in some locations. Do your homework well before you actually want to begin a It’s important to have a positive working rela- project, to make sure it is actually feasible tionship with the contractor and the opera- and can be constructed when it is needed. tors who will be working on the project. Open and clear communication is very important, Environmental conditions also control project and a chain-of-command at the work site timing. The time varies when each of the helps keep everything running smoothly. construction activities (clearing, grubbing, burning, excavation and grading, compac- C. TIMING tion, stream crossing installation and surfacing) can best be conducted. For example, schedul- Project timing is dependent on several factors ing road building activities in steep areas for including: your readiness to conduct the work; the drier months can be an effective landslide successfully obtaining the required permits control measure. Similarly, if the project has from regulatory agencies; seasonal regulatory numerous stream crossings it may be best to restrictions that may exist for certain opera- wait until the streams have dried up or at least tions; and the most favorable environmental reached their lowest seasonal base flow before conditions or period to perform the work. disturbing the channel. Roads should be While planning, design and field reconnais- constructed during the time of year when sance work can be conducted at any time of the best results can be achieved with the year, the proper timing of each phase of road least environmental damage (Table 4). construction is critical to a successful project. Clearing (cutting and removal of trees and Regulations in many areas restrict certain brush from the right-of-way) can be performed operations (such as stream crossing construc- anytime weather permits ground crews to cut tion or reconstruction) to a particular time of the vegetation and equipment to pile or yard the year, regardless of how favorable condi- it to a storage site. In forested areas, felling tions may be during other time periods. Check crews may cut vegetation along the alignment with the appropriate regulatory agencies in up to a month before equipment is on-hand your area to see if the proposed road building to remove the material. Removal of trees or reconstruction operations in your area and vegetation results in soil disturbance and have mandatory seasonal restrictions. should be limited to reasonably dry soil condi- tions when rain storms are unlikely. Likewise, Once the possible operating season has been grubbing (the removal of organic material determined (Table 4), make sure you have from the soil surface, including stump removal) obtained the necessary permits for the work. should only be performed when the threat of These may include forestry permits for timber erosion from the disturbed areas is minimal, harvesting, grading permits for land clearing yet early enough for you to take advantage of and earth moving, permits for constructing moist soils that are comparatively easy to work. stream crossings, as well as permits for disturb- ing wetlands, operating near or within habitat Grading (the excavation and creation of the for endangered plant and animal species, road bench) creates large expanses of bare soil, and avoidance of historic and archaeological and should therefore be performed only during resources. These and other permits, and the dry spring, summer or early fall conditions. studies or field reviews needed to support and To achieve proper compaction of fill materials HANDBOOK FOR FOREST, RANCH AND RURAL ROADS 166 CHAPTER 5 used in stream crossings, landings, and along structures are critical to keeping erosion from cut-and-fill road benches, most soils will require the new road to a minimum during the first adequate moisture. Rocky, coarse-textured winter. Likewise, all temporary stream cross- soils may be placed during relatively dry condi- ings should be removed and all erosion control tions. Watering using a water truck may be measures installed before the wet season begins. required to achieve proper compaction of fill In many areas there are additional regulatory materials as they are laid down and compacted. requirements in effect for forestry operations or Overly dry or very wet, fine textured soils often construction work conducted anytime during cannot be compacted enough to produce the the winter or wet weather period. These include soil strength needed to support loaded trucks developing a “winter period operating plan” or to remain stable on steep slopes. If the soils that includes the details of any proposed land are too wet, they should be allowed to dry, use and erosion prevention activities that will be and if they are too dry they should be watered undertaken.