O_FERM_Attachment_02_Road_Side_Brushing.doc

Attachment 02 – Road Side Brushing

Description of Work:

These specifications are for cutting all vegetative growth, including trees and other vegetation above the ground, along the roadsides. The following specifications apply to all roads, unless otherwise stated as unique to a road or segment.

Requirements:

General:

1. Contractor shall provide all equipment, materials and labor necessary to complete road maintenance tasks in compliance with these terms, specifications, and provisions.

2. Warning signs shall be provided by the Contractor and shall be placed in accordance with Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devises (MUTCD), current edition, standards while work is in progress. This shall include “Slow Moving Equipment” signs attached to all road surface equipment.

3. Contractor shall notify the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) three working days prior to the day of beginning work on a road in order to coordinate inspection activities during Federal business hours, unless otherwise approved in writing by the COR.

4. Work shall be performed by hand or mechanically. Wheels or tracks of self-propelled equipment shall not be allowed on backslopes, fill slopes, berms or ditches. Self-propelled equipment shall remain within the roadway limits. Natural ground adjacent to the road shall not be disturbed by mechanical and self-propelled equipment.

5. Do not operate mechanical brush cutters when there are non-Contractor personnel or occupied vehicles within a hazardous distance of the immediate operating area.

6. Upon completion of the work:

a) The roadside clearing limits shall be free of all brush, small plants and trees less than four (4) inches in diameter and cut to a height of four (4) inches or less from the ground unless designated or marked to remain. Brush and small plants growing in the ditch line, on the shoulder or on the traveled way shall be cut flush with the ground. All cut stems shall be uniform and parallel to the ground surface.

b) Trees greater than four (4) inches in diameter within the clearing limits shall remain standing unless marked in advance by the COR.

c) All stumps, fresh or previously cut, of trees greater than four (4) inches in diameter at the base above butt swell standing outside the roadway or embankment areas and within the brushing limits can be left undisturbed provided they do not extend more than one (1) foot above the natural ground (measured on the uphill side) and they do not interfere with the operation and maintenance of the road, ditches and drainage structures.

d) All stumps greater than four (4) inches in diameter existing within the roadside, ditches or drainage structures shall be cut flush to the ground.

e) Grass and other non-woody stemmed vegetation without an intermixed brush component shall be left in a natural undisturbed condition unless directed for cutting by the COR. Grass growing intermixed with brush shall be cut along with the brush.

f) Vegetation in live running water channels and standing water bodies, including but not limited to streams, rivers, run-off channels, over-flow or bypass channels, natural ponds, beaver ponds and lakes, etc., and adjacent to the edge of such water channels and bodies inside the brushing limits shall be brushed unless designated by the COR to be left in a natural and undisturbed condition.

g) Signs, markers and other road appurtenances are designated to be retained. Brush growing around the bases of signs, markers and other retained road appurtenances within three (3) feet of the posts or base perimeter shall be cut flush with the ground.

h) All trees within the clearing limits shall have all branches trimmed to a height of fourteen (14) feet above the roadway. All trimmed branches shall be cut as near flush with the trunk as possible.

i) All trees outside the clearing limits shall have all branches trimmed to provide a clear height of fourteen (14) feet above the roadway. All trimmed branches shall be cut as near flush with the trunk as possible.

j) When chipping and grinding is specified in the TO, all pieces of wood greater than four (4) inches in diameter on the small end and greater than three (3) feet in length shall be neatly stacked within the brushing limits on top of the brushing slash and debris.

Treatment Methods:

1. Treatment of brushing slash shall be accomplished by the method described in the task order:

a) All Methods. No brushing slash shall be deposited in lakes, meadows, streams, or streambeds. Brushing slash that interferes with drainage structure(s) shall be removed immediately. Brushing slash shall be considered all woody debris resulting from the cutting and trimming of woody material within the specified clearing limits.

b) Chipping and Grinding. Brushing slash shall be left lying on the ground in pieces no larger than four (4) inches in the largest diameter and no longer than three (3) feet in unbroken or uncut length. If brushing slash pieces are larger than stated, the pieces shall be run through a machine to chop, chip or grind slash to sizes smaller than stated in this subsection. Deposit slash, chips and ground woody debris outside the roadway to a loose depth not exceeding 6 inches.

Measurement:

1. Measurement for cutting vegetation by the pass mile will be determined by the number of 4 ft. wide by 14 ft. high passes ordered and accepted. Partial increments ordered to complete the outside edge of backslope or fill slope, cutting, and transitions will be measured as full passes. The length of each pass ordered will be determined to the nearest 0.1 mile on each road.

2. No reduction in the distance between road terminal shown on the road listing will be made for areas where there is little or no vegetation to be cut.

Acceptable Quality Levels and Performance Summary: