Att. 7 Road Maintenance TO - SOW 250505.pdf

Green Mountain National Forest

Road Maintenance

Project Details

Table of Contents:

Sheet Number: Title:

1: Cover Sheet

2 – 8: General Notes

Green Mountain National Forest Road Maintenance

Aggregate Surface Reconditioning:

1. The Contractor shall blade and properly shape the total roadbed width, including curve widening, turnarounds, turnouts, and parking areas that are part of the roadbed cross section, to produce a surface which is uniform, consistent to grade and has either a crowned cross slope or an unidirectional cross slope across the entire roadbed width as indicated by the character of the existing surface. Typically, the roadbed shall be shaped so the crown is at the centerline with a uniform downward transverse cross slope of at least to 1/2 inch per foot towards each roadbed edge. Rounding of the crown at the road centerline and excessive cross slope shall be avoided. Unidirectional cross slope shall be the same slope rate as the crowned cross slope rate. The transition between crowned and unidirectional cross-sloped sections shall be smooth and uniform.

2. The Contractor shall take reasonable measures to reclaim onto the roadbed all suitable aggregate material that has been worked to the roadbed edges by traffic or other means. Also, care shall be exercised during grading operations to avoid blading aggregate surface off the roadbed and to avoid fouling aggregate surfaces with unsuitable material or other debris removed from roadway ditches, berms, slides or other sources.

3. Proper grading principles and techniques shall be utilized to ensure adequate mixing action of the loosened material, material movement along the moldboard face to its discharge end and the prevention of excess material loss from the moldboard toe or undercutting along the roadbed edge and the resulting formation of a “secondary ditch” (“high shoulder/berm”).

Cutting secondary ditches or formation of high shoulders/berms along the roadbed edges is unacceptable and shall be removed. Do not undercut the tow of the cut slope when grading roads. Avoid over widening of roads due to repeated grading over time.

4. All pre-existing berms, not natural, and secondary ditches shall be removed from the roadbed edge to the maximum extent possible to facilitate and expedite drainage off and away from the roadbed surface. All suitable aggregate material removed shall be incorporated into the roadbed and unsuitable soil and other material shall be disposed of as specified herein.

5. All roads with bridges, ramps, curbs, guardrail post, and/or other drainage features are expected to be free berms and facilitate proper drainage. This may require hand work to remove berm on bridges or in between guardrail posts.

6. Grading operations shall be conducted as applicable and shall include the removal of, by scarifying and/or cutting out to the bottom, all corrugations (washboards), potholes and ruts.

Just filling in is unacceptable.

7. Road shoulders shall be properly shaped and have sufficient slope away from the traveled way and meet the traveled way edge at the same elevation to provide for drainage directly off and away from the traveled way surface and not create a low shoulder or drop-off which is a safety hazard. The edge line of the roadbed shall be definite, continuous, and smooth to the extent that existing conditions and material permit, with no abrupt changes in alignment.

8. The finished roadbed surface shall have a proper and uniform crown or unidirectional cross slope and shall provide a smooth driving surface consistent with the various road maintenance level requirements stated in these notes. At intersections, the roadbed of all side roads, open or closed, shall be graded, as necessary, to insure a smooth and uniform transition.

9. All loose stones, sod clumps and other debris shall be removed from the roadbed surface and disposed of as described in these notes. All unsuitable soil material resulting from grading operations shall be disposed of a minimum of five (5) feet beyond the roadbed edges by feathering out and/or scattering, so as not to create a berm, or be placed at locations approved by the COR where it will not interfere with roadway or existing drainage. No material resulting from the grading operation shall be deposited in roadway ditches, culvert inlets and outlets, immediately adjacent to roadbed edges, streams, wetlands, water bodies or at other locations where it will interfere with roadway or existing drainage. Any material deposited shall be immediately removed.

10. Grading shall be performed only when the roadbed material has suitable moisture content, five

(5) to fifteen (15) percent by weight, for the roadbed to be properly graded, shaped, and compacted by traffic. Grading shall not be performed when the roadbed material moisture content is either too high or too low to properly grade the roadbed. Sufficient evidence of high moisture content is when the roadbed shows signs of becoming unstable as indicated by sponginess, shoving, rolling or other displacement of the roadbed material under traffic or maintenance equipment. Sufficient evidence of low moisture content is when the roadbed shows signs of not being able to be compacted by traffic, dust generation, and continuing raveling. No additional compensation shall be due the Contractor for any suspensions resulting from too dry or too wet soil moisture condition.

11. Road grading operations shall proceed in an orderly manner and shall not exceed one (1) mile in length without written permission from the COR. No unfinished work that may present a hazard to road users, such as berms of material, scarified roadbed, etc., shall be left within the roadbed limits overnight, on weekends or holidays.

12. Level 2 roads shall be maintained to facilitate and expedite drainage off and away from the roadbed and to alleviate erosion or sedimentation on or from the roadbed and roadsides. The finished traveled way surface shall be reasonably uniform and free from berms, corrugations, potholes and ruts. All stones protruding more than four (4) inches above the roadbed surface, which can be removed with a grader, shall be removed from the roadbed and the holes filled in with roadbed material. Stones shall be disposed of as described in these notes. All existing drivable drainage dips, including the dip runoff, shall be graded to maintain dips drainage and driving function ability. Dips shall have a minimum nine (9) inch drainage flow depth (invert to top of dip).

13. Level 3 & 4 roads shall be maintained to facilitate and expedite drainage off and away from the roadbed and to alleviate erosion or sedimentation on or from the roadbed and roadsides. The finished roadbed surface shall provide a uniform and smooth driving surface suitable for passenger cars and free from berms, corrugations, potholes and ruts. All stones protruding more than two (2) inches above the roadbed surface, which can be removed with a grader, shall be removed from the roadbed and the holes filled in with roadbed material. Stones shall be disposed of as described in these notes.

14. Drainage run-outs shall be provided through continuous existing vegetation at 400 feet intervals, from the high to low grade point along the road, where the vegetation prohibits traveled way drainage runoff. Run-outs shall be 100 feet in length and shall be located on either or both sides of the roadbed depending on the existing type of cross slope at the location.

15. All established grass and other vegetation shall be removed from within the roadbed limits.

Established grass and other vegetation shall not be removed from areas outside the roadbed except as necessary to provide drainage.

16. All fallen trees, limbs, branches, and other obstructions in the roadbed and/or up to six (6) feet beyond each edge of the roadbed or in ditches and drainage ways shall be removed and disposed of manually or mechanically. All woody material removed shall be disposed of by scattering a minimum of ten (10) feet beyond the existing roadway clearing on the down slope side of the road. All trees shall be limbed, and slash shall be cut or lopped and shall be made to lie within three (3) feet of the ground surface.

17. All stones removed from the roadbed shall be disposed of by scattering a minimum of five (5) feet beyond the roadbed on the down slope side of the road.

18. All existing gradable roadway ditches shall be maintained in their original location to the shape and grade required to insure drainage of the roadway. This work shall be considered incidental to item 30317, “Aggregate Surface Reconditioning, Compaction Method A (level 2)”, and item 30318, “Aggregate Surface Reconditioning, Compaction Method A (level 3 & 4)”. When ditching operations are performed with a motor grader, avoid running the motor grader tires in ditches when standing water is present or the ditch bottom is too soft to support its weight.

19. Ditch run-outs shall be cleaned and opened for a distance of one motor grader length, outward from the roadbed, to provide drainage away from the roadbed. Additional ditch run-outs shall be installed through existing berms or at other locations where long uninterrupted stretches of ditch line exist on moderate and steep grades, as mutually agreed, to maintain proper drainage away from the roadbed. Ditch run-outs shall be cut uniformly outward at an angle of between 20 to 45 degrees from the ditch centerline at the same grade as the ditch line. Material excavated from these run-out ditches shall be used to form run-out ditch blocks and/or properly disposed of by scattering. Excavated material shall not be used in the roadbed.

20. To prevent sediment from entering streams, all ditches, run-outs or any location of bare soil that outlets into an active stream and is located within 25 feet of an active stream shall be seeded and mulched daily. The seed mixture shall contain only native and non-invasive species to the state of Vermont. The seed mixture shall be approved by the COR prior to use. All mulch shall be free of non-native and invasive species. A current list of noxious weed species of concern to the Forest Service is available at the Forest Supervisor’s Office at Green Mtn. & Finger Lakes National Forest, 231 No. Main St., Rutland, VT 05701.

Culvert Cleaning:

1. Cleaning shall consist of removing and disposing of all deposited and slide materials, stones, debris and other objectionable material from all existing drainage structures. This work is necessary to assure uninterrupted and unrestricted flow to, through, and away from drainage structures and to minimize erosion and other resource damage. The Contractor shall flag and notify the COR of the location of all drainage structures that require additional cleaning or repair beyond the scope of this contract. All deposited and slide material, debris, loose rocks and other objectionable materials shall be removed from these locations:

• Culvert catch basin and its cut slopes to a height of five (5) feet above the culvert invert.

• Culvert inlet ditches and/or stream channel and their associated cut slopes, to the top of cut or a height of five (5) feet above the ditch or channel invert whichever is less, for a distance of fifteen (15) feet up-grade from the culvert inlet.

• Culvert outlet ditch or stream channels and associated cut slopes, to the top of cut or a height of five (5) feet above the ditch or channel invert whichever is less, for a maximum distance of fifteen (15) feet from the culvert outlet.

• The first three (5) feet within the culvert inlet and outlet ends.

2. All waste materials and debris removed shall be spread, not piled, beyond the top of cuts when the ground slope is reasonably flat or outside the roadbed on the down slope side where it will not re-enter culverts or their catch basins and inlet and outlet ditches or interfere with roadway and existing drainage. Placing waste materials on cut slopes, streams, wetlands, water bodies or the roadbed shall not be permitted

3. All vegetative material that is growing in front of or into a culvert and reduces the culvert waterway area, thirty-six (36) inches and less in diameter or span, shall be cut or removed, as appropriate, from the area immediately surrounding the culvert inlet and outlet.

4. Culvert cleaning shall be paid for under item 60707, “Cleaning Culverts in Place” to include all culverts within a given segment of road measured in miles.

Ditch Reconditioning:

1. The intent of roadway ditch reconditioning is to re-establish and/or keep roadway ditches functional by alleviating existing obstructions and stagnant water to provide for continuous free flowing water along the ditch.

2. Ditches requiring reconditioning shall be reshaped to match the cross-section of immediately adjacent existing functional ditches and at the same grade as the roadbed. Roadway ditches shall be carefully graded to avoid undercutting existing back slopes. Slopes that are undercut, less than two (2) feet in height, shall be repaired by beveling them back on a 1:1 slope from the bottom of the ditch or when, in the judgment of the COR, undercutting appears severe enough to cause or result in cut slope slides, other slope correction methods will be used as directed by the COR. All required correction work shall be performed by and at the expense of the Contractor.

3. All unsuitable soil material or stones resulting from ditch cleaning or restoration operations shall be disposed of a minimum of five (5) feet beyond the roadbed edges or ditch invert by feathering out and/or scattering, so as not to create a high shoulder/berm, or be placed at locations approved by the COR. Disposed material shall not be placed where it will interfere with roadway or other existing drainage.

4. No material resulting from the ditch cleaning or restoration operations shall be deposited in roadway ditches, culvert inlets and outlets, immediately adjacent to roadbed edges, streams, wetlands, water bodies or at other locations where it will interfere with roadway or existing drainage. Any material deposited shall be immediately removed.

5. Ditch reconditioning shall be paid for under item 30304, “Road Reconditioning, Ditch”, and be measured in miles of ditch. Each ditch will be measured per side of road. (Example: A mile of road requires ditch reconditioning on both sides it would be measured 2 (two) miles of ditch reconditioning.)

6. To prevent sediment from entering streams, all ditches that outlet into an active stream and is located within 25 feet of an active stream shall be seeded and mulched daily. The seed mixture shall contain only native and non-invasive species to the state of Vermont. The seed mixture shall be approved by the COR prior to use. All mulch shall be free of non-native and invasive species. A current list of noxious weed species of concern to the Forest Service is available at the Forest Supervisor’s Office at Green Mtn. & Finger Lakes National Forest, 231 No. Main St., Rutland, VT 05701.

General Notes:

1. A road maintenance Schedule of Work will be provided with each task order. This schedule will contain completion dates for individual roads. The Government reserves the right to prioritize roads that shall be completed first.

2. Select roads contain rare plants and/or non-native invasive plants. These roads will have special direction on maintenance. For example, Forest Road 54 contains rare plants on a segment. The contractor will be directed to not disturb the ditches in these areas. The areas will be clearly marked by the FS prior to maintenance. Other areas will have special direction regarding date of completion.

3. All proposed equipment to be used for performance of the work shall be of modern design, of the proper size and type, in good mechanical condition, and furnished with the appropriate and required attachments to effectively and efficiently perform the requirements of the contract.

Equipment used under this specification shall meet the following specific requirements as to dimensions, power, size, type, or capacity:

• Motor graders shall be self-propelled tandem drive with pneumatic tired wheels, power operated controls, eighty-five (85) HP or greater, and a wheelbase of at least eighteen (18) feet. Additionally, motor graders shall be equipped with the following:

• Moldboard of not less than twelve (12) feet or more than fourteen (14) feet.

• Scarifier with a minimum of four (4) teeth or a carbide bit grader blade with appropriate type bits spaced two (2) inch maximum.

• Rollover protective structure.

• Flashing amber signal lamp(s) visible from all sides.

• Rear mounted reflectorized slow moving vehicle emblem, twelve (12) inch minimum size.

• Fire extinguisher, minimum type B-C.

• Variations to this section require written approval from the CO.

4. The Contractor shall, as a minimum, furnish, install, move, and maintain the following temporary traffic control warning signs:

No. Sign Panel

Location Req’d Number Size (In.) Message

Both ends of work area 2 W21-3 36 x 36 ROAD MACHINERY AHEAD

Both ends of work area 2 G20-1 36 x 18 ROAD WORK NEXT 1 MILE

Signs shall have a black message and border on a reflectorized orange background.

The Contractor shall place signs in positions, at each end of all work sections, where they shall most effectively convey their messages and shall provide motorist adequate time for response.

Signs shall be kept clean, so they are always clearly visible and readable.

As a rule, signs shall be located on the right-hand side of the roadway facing oncoming traffic on each end of the section of roadway on which construction or maintenance operations are being performed. Signs shall be moved as required to properly delineate and identify the section of road where construction or maintenance operations are being performed. Signs shall not be more than one (1) mile from each end of all work sections. When considered necessary by the COR or inspector, the Contractor shall be required to decrease this distance as directed.

Signs may be mounted on portable or temporary supports at the edge of the roadbed, where they will not interfere with traffic, with the bottom of the sign not less than one (1) foot above the road surface. Signs mounted on yielding or breakaway post shall be placed at a minimum of six (6) feet from the edge of the roadbed with the bottom of the sign a minimum of five (5) feet above the elevation of the roadbed edge.

5. All soil moving equipment shall be thoroughly cleaned to make it free of soil, noxious weed seeds, vegetative matter or other debris that could contain or hold seeds prior to being delivered to the project site. Equipment shall be considered free of soil, noxious weed seeds and other such debris when a visual inspection by the C.O.R., prior to the equipment being delivered to the site, does not disclose such material present. Disassembly of equipment components is not required. The Contractor shall notify the Forest Service at least five (5) working days prior to moving each piece of soil moving equipment onto the project site and arrange for a convenient time and place for the Forest Service to inspect each piece of soil moving equipment prior to being placed into service.

The Contractor shall thoroughly clean all soil moving equipment prior to moving them off a project site or between work areas on a project site that are known to be infested with noxious weed species of concern and other work areas, if any, that are free of noxious weed species of concern. The Contractor and the Forest Service shall agree on the methods of cleaning, location for the cleaning and control of off-site impacts, if any.

6. All roads scheduled for maintenance will be maintained to either Level 2 or Level 3 & 4 maintenance standards as indicated in the Road Maintenance Schedule.

Level 2 road maintenance is assigned to low traffic volume roads open for use primarily by high clearance vehicles at a low travel speed. Passenger car traffic is discouraged and not a consideration. Emphasis is given to maintaining roadway drainage and runoff patterns with user comfort and convenience a low priority. Roads in this maintenance level are generally single lane with occasional turnouts that have surfaces of native material or bank-run gravel or occasional processed gravel surfacing.

Level 3 & 4 road maintenance is assigned to moderate traffic volume roads open for use by all types of vehicles, from standard passenger cars to large commercial vehicles, at low to moderate travel speed. Emphasis is given to maintaining roadway drainage and runoff and providing moderate user comfort and convenience. Roads in this maintenance level are single or double lane with frequent turnouts that are surfaced with processed gravel.