M 05 - LG On Carrying Out Forest Road Construction and Maintenance

The Government of the National State of Tigray
Bureau of Technical and Vocational Education & Training
AGRICULTURE
Unit of Competence: Carry Out forest road construction and

maintenance
Module Title; Carrying Out forest road construction and

maintenance
LG Code: NRC NCD3M05 0117

TTLM Code: NRC NCD3TTLM050117v1
NRCFDU 3TTLM1012V1 TVET Program: Forest development and utilization Level III Page 1
Authors; Shishaykinfe
Carry Out forest road construction and maintenance
Information sheet Unit
#1 Module Carrying Out forest road construction and maintenance
LO1 Plan Forest Road Construction And Maintenance
1.1. Definition;
Forest roads are all truck- and tractor roads constructed pursuant to the road standards established by the
Ministry of Agriculture and other forest roads that cause permanent terrain encroachments.
Forest roads connect the most remote parts of the forest to existing township, county and state roads and
highways, providing access to forest lands for timber management, fish and wildlife habitat improvement,
fire control, hunting and a variety of recreational activities. For the purpose of these guidelines, road
constructions include excavation of gravel quarries and borrow pits.
Significant investment in forestry and forest roads are a pre-requisite for thinning.
However, forest roads are not just for timber extraction. Their role is much more multifunctional than
merely carrying loads of timber. When adequately designed and constructed, forest roads can enhance
biodiversity, give access for better and more timely inspection and management, allow access for the
fighting of forest fires and act as a fire break and, subject to landowner approval, give access to the public to
enjoy the many and varied recreational uses presented by forests.
Forest roads are vital infrastructure for ongoing forest management. Most forest roads are primarily
industrial roads but many are also a public benefit by providing access for recreation activities, to utilities
and facilities (e.g., communications towers, weather stations, research and monitoring sites), and to remote
communities or rural residences.
The construction of forest roads represents one of the more visible forestry operations and can have a
number of environmental impacts including landscape, water, soil, habitat and social/community
Forest roads are necessary to provide access to the forest for general management, maintenance, timber
extraction and recreation. Apart from initial establishment, roads represent the single greatest capital
investment by the owner. There is a need not only to provide a cost efficient road design and layout suitable
for extraction but also to ensure that the forest road is compatible with environmental values.
Forest owners might neglect the timing of forest road construction as roading only assumes relevance when
the crop is ready to produce timber. However, if planned at the time of crop establishment, many advantages
ensue including:
ease of layout and survey;
alignment of road with the existing drainage system;
unplanted road lines can act as firebreaks;
reduces risk of wind throw as there is no opening up of the crop;
improved opportunity to enhance biodiversity; and
access.
Road
A route constructed or used primarily for the purpose of transporting logs by truck, and includes the
following:
• Forest service roads;
• Roads on private managed forest land; or
• Those roads covered by the Industrial Roads Act that are primarily used for the transportation of forest
resources.and any pits, quarries, landings or waste areas that are used in conjunction with the roads. A road
does not include those routes constructed for winter use only, built of snow and ice without inclusion or
excavation of sub grade soils.
1.2. OHS legislative and organizational requirements

OHS requirements are to be in accordance with Federal and Regional Legislation and regulations, and
organizational safety Policies and procedures. Requirements include:
 the use of personal protective equipment and clothing
 safety equipment
 first aid equipment
 firefighting equipment
 hazard and risk control
 elimination of hazardous materials and substances
 safe forest practices including required actions relating to forest fire
 manual handling including shifting, lifting and carrying
Safety is a major concern for those involved in forest roadworks. The construction of new forest roads and
the upgrade of existing forest roads come under the control of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work
(Construction) Regulations 2001. As a result, the client (forest owner/agent) must ensure that competent
people are employed for the design and construction of forest road works.
1.3. Loggingand topography
Site-specific soil, topographic and forest inventory information will assist resource managers or landowners
in planning road location and layout.
Logging is the cutting, skidding, on-site processing, and loading of trees or logs onto trucks[1]or skeleton
cars.
In forestry, the term logging is sometimes used in a narrow sense concerning the logistics of moving wood
from the stump to somewhere outside the forest, usually a sawmill or a lumber yard. However, in common
usage, the term may be used to indicate a range of forestry or silviculture activities.
Illegal logging refers to what in forestry might be called timber theft.[2][3] It can also refer to the harvest,
transportation, purchase or sale of timber in violation of laws. The harvesting procedure itself may be illegal,
including using corrupt means to gain access to forests; extraction without permission or from a protected
area; the cutting of protected species; or the extraction of timber in excess of agreed limits. [4]
Clear-cut logging is not necessarily considered a type of logging but a harvest or silviculture method and is
simply called clear cutting or block cutting. In the forest products industry logging companies may be
referred to as logging contractors, with the smaller, non-union crews referred to as "gyppo loggers."
Cutting trees with the highest value and leaving those with lower value, often diseased or malformed trees,
is referred to as high grading. It is sometimes called selective logging, and confused with selection cutting,
the practice of managing stands by harvesting a proportion of trees.[5]
Logging usually refers to above-ground forestry logging. Submerged forests exist on land that has been
flooded by damming to create reservoirs. Such trees are logged using underwater logging or by the lowering
of the reservoirs in question. Otsa Lake and Williston Lakein British Columbia, Canada, are notable
examples where timber recovery has been needed to remove inundated forests.[6]
1.4. Road location, design and construction requirements
Forest truck roads eligible for grants must be planned and built according to the road standards with
technical and construction method specifications set by the Ministry, and must allow for loaded log truck
traffic during the summer season except for thawing periods and periods with excessive rainfalls.
Environmental, as well as multiple-use aspects, must be considered when selecting road standard and
construction methods.
Proper location and construction of roads that provide for safety, longer operating periods, and lower
maintenance and operating costs
Roads should be located so that they:
1. Avoid strictly protected areas, scientific research areas and designated archaeological and cultural sites;
2. Minimise the number of stream crossings and interference with natural drainage;
3. Keep earthworks to a minimum by matching wherever possible, road alignment with topography of the
site;
4. Avoid environmentally sensitive areas;
5. Avoid steep (>60%) and unstable slopes and areas prone to landslips;
6. Avoid disturbance to streams, buffer strips and riparian vegetation;
7. Avoid entry of side cast material into streams or drainage channels; and
8. Permit surface run-off to be discharged away from streams or drainage channels as far as is practicable.
Road location planning often requires simultaneous considerations of several existing landscape border
zones. The slide shows how a road location could be adapted both to the border zones between flat and steep
terrain and between vegetation and water. A location further away from the side-hill would have been
preferable.
The road is located in proper distance from the lake with a natural vegetation cover left between the road
and the lake, wide enough to form a border zone by itself.
Alignment and Location considerations

 Prior to construction, identify locations of new roads, borrow areas and gravel pits to avoid cultural
resources and other sensitive areas.
 Locate roads to minimize the amount of cut-and-fill and the number of water crossings.
 Locate roads away from streams, lakes, open water wetlands, wetland inclusions, seasonal ponds,
seeps and springs whenever possible, to provide adequate filter strips.
 Wherever practical, locate roads (those that do not cross a stream, lake or open water wetland)
outside of filter strips or the riparian management zone (RMZ), whichever is wider.
 Locate roads to avoid concentrating runoff and reduce the potential for non point source pollution.
 If road closure is anticipated, consider designing road approaches to facilitate effective closure after
completion of management activities.
 Avoid locating roads below the high water mark of streams, lakes, wetlands and seasonal ponds
whenever possible.
 Avoid locating roads on unstable slopes subject to slumping or creep whenever practical.
 Avoid constructing roads with grades in excess of 10%. On highly erodible soils, maximum grades
of 5% are recommended.
 Minimize down-road flow and ponding by constructing roads with a slight grade of 1% or 2% and
with appropriate ditches where practical.
Standard forest roads are designed to carry vehicles conforming to maximum legal weights and dimensions
applicable to public roads. However economic and external factors will sometimes result in the design of a
road to less than full standard.
e.g. intractable limitations in either public road or right-of-way access routes, terrain
(heavy rock outcrop, deep peat) may limit what can reasonably be provided; and
departures from full road standard must not be lightly undertaken, each case being carefully evaluated on
its merits. Such departures must be clearly documented by competent designers.
New and upgraded roads should be designed to:

comply with the standards set out later in this chapter;
accommodate the anticipated frequency, type and speed of traffic;
take cognizance of soil and sub-grade conditions;
provide for road drainage and water quality requirements; and
incorporate landscape and environmental values.
Design Considerations
-Examine existing access routes to determine whether they are the best routes to improve.
-Consider whether relocation would provide a better long-term access route.
-Consider future management activities that may utilize common roads for adjacent stands or ownerships.
-Minimize total road mileage and ground disturbance required to meet landowner objectives.
-Plan to limit the area disturbed by roads to less than 1-2% of the management area (defined as the specific
site where activities are taking place). Slightly different percentage goals may be appropriate when
considering a larger land area, such as a landscape.
- Establish appropriate stabilization, drainage and erosion control measures, to be applied on a daily basis
during all phases of an operation.
- Minimize road width consistent with road safety and design considerations.
General Construction Considerations

 Prior to construction, identify locations of new roads, borrow areas and gravel pits to avoid cultural
resource areas.
 Construct all road embankment fills with clean fill or other suitable native materials.
 Anchor temporary structures at one end to allow the structure to move aside during high water flows.
 Employ sediment control techniques (such as silt curtains) to prevent movement to open water when
placing fill during construction.
1.5. Timeframe for use of the road
The life expectancy of a road depends on the purpose of the road and the duration of its planned operational
use. For example, a road may be one of the following:
• Road with a specific season of use, such as a winter road;
• Road with a defined lifespan; or
• Permanent road.
Permanent roads are intended for long-term use. They include all-season roads and seasonal roads.
• All-season roads are designed for use all year long, though there may be some restrictions on vehicle
weight at times during spring break up or wet periods. There is a great range in design standards and road
surfacing in this type of road, depending on the traffic load anticipated.
• Seasonal roads are designed for long-term periodic use, such as during dry and frozen periods. These roads
are built to lower engineering standards and have minimal material surfacing.
Temporary roads are generally minimum-standard roads designed for short-term use during a specific
project, such as a timber harvest. Many of these temporary roads are little more than a bladed lane pushed
into the harvest site. Use of these roads is typically limited to dry or frozen conditions to minimize rutting
and compaction.
Timing- Road construction should ideally be undertaken during winter periods when lower rainfall and drier
soil conditions minimize the risk of erosion.
1.6. Log extraction methods

Extraction is the process of moving trees or logs from the cutting site to a landing or roadside where they
will be processed into logs or consolidated into larger loads for transport to the processing facility or other
final destination.
Extraction with ground-skidding equipment
 Most logging worldwide is done with ground-skidding equipment. Such equipment includes crawler
tractors (bulldozers), wheeled and tracked skidders and farm tractors. The following practices
are recommended when such equipment is being used:
 Wheeled skidder
 - As a general rule, skidders are preferable to crawler tractors for log extraction. Unlike crawlers,
which are general-purpose machines especially intended for use in construction and excavation,
skidders are designed explicitly for log extraction. Their rubber tyres and high manouverability can
reduce soil and tree damage. They are usually narrower than crawler tractors and have smaller blades
so that they can pass more easily between residual trees without causing damage. The smaller blades
also prevent excessive blading, which can initiate erosion.
 Crawler tractor
 - Crawler tractors are often used in forestry for road construction and maintenance as well as for
skidding. As a result, they have certain economic advantages compared with skidders, which have
only one purpose. Because they are equipped with steel tracks and powerful bulldozer blades,
crawler tractors can be used on very steep slopes. Also, operators tend to blade skid trails simply
because it is easy to do so, rather than limit blading to places where it is required for safety or
efficiency.
 Farm tractor
 - The use of farm tractors is a reasonable option when trees are relatively small and the terrain is not
exceptionally rugged. Because these vehicles are not designed specifically for logging, safety can be
a serious problem, and modifications are almost always needed to improve the durability of the
machines as well as to make them safe for forest work. With such modifications farm tractors can be
an excellent choice for small, private forests or in developing countries where farm machinery is
often easier to obtain than specialized forestry equipment. Farm tractors are particularly well suited
for work in forest plantations, especially for harvesting smaller stems, as in thinnings.
 Tracked skidder
 These are tracked skidders with torsion suspension systems and a design that moves the load's centre
of mass forward on to the skidder for better weight distribution over the tracks. Such skidders are
more expensive than wheeled skidders but produce less ground pressure and, because of the torsion
suspension system, tend to pass smoothly over such ground cover as logging debris and
undergrowth, leaving it largely in place. Wheeled skidders and crawler tractors are more likely to
crush ground cover into the soil.
 A farm tractor being used to skid logs. Note the protection for the driver and the device for raising
the front end of the logs off the ground.
 Wheeled skidder equipped with high-flotation tyres (1000-mm wide) to reduce tyre pressure on wet
soils.
 Excessive skid-trail density in a natural forest in the tropics. Such practices can lead to heavy soil
erosion and sedimentation of streams. These problems can be reduced by using a system of
designated skid trails and requiring skidders to remain on the designated skid trails at all times.
Extraction with forwarders
 Forwarders are extraction machines that carry a load of logs completely off the ground, either within
their own frame or on a trailer; therefore, they typically cause less soil damage than ground-skidding
equipment. Usually they include a mechanism, such as a hydraulic or mechanical crane, for self-
loading and unloading of logs. Most forwarders have been designed explicitly to utilize the latest
information on ergonomics and to promote safety. They are frequently used in combination with
mechanized felling and processing equipment, although this is not essential. Recommended practices
for extraction with forwarders include the following:
 Forwarder
 - Forwarders work best when logs are approximately uniform in size.
 - In comparison with ground skidders, the productivity of forwarders is less sensitive to extraction
distance. Typically, therefore, the economic extraction distance is two to four times that of ground-
skidding equipment. The density of haul roads required in the forest can thus be reduced when
forwarders are used instead of skidders.
 -Forwarders require a somewhat better track than skidders because the load must be kept relatively
level in order to avoid tipping. In hilly terrain, the forwarder tracks should go directly up and down
the slope. Stumps and undergrowth in the track should be cut down to ground level, and the cut brush
can be thrown in the track to help protect the soil. A modest amount of blading is necessary where
forwarders are intended to travel along hillsides. It is generally unsafe to use them on tracks with
grades that exceed about 30 to 40 percent (17° to 22°).
Cable extraction systems
 Cable extraction systems are fundamentally different from other extraction systems. In cable
systems, one or more suspended cables are used to convey logs from the felling site to the landing.
The cables are operated by a winching machine (also called a yarder or hauler), which may be
installed either at the landing or at the opposite end of the cableway, often on a ridgetop.
1.7. Liaising Authorities
Forest owners/managers/agents must liaise with Local Authority staff about principal activities and main
developments.
Loading bays along public roads should only be constructed whenever it would otherwise be uneconomical
to construct a forest road within the property. This usually occurs on account of difficult ground conditions
or for small pockets of otherwise inaccessible timber. However, if at all possible, loading bays on public
roads should be avoided.
Previously, under Local Government (Planning and Development) Regulations, forestry was deemed as an
agriculture activity and planning permission for internal forest road was only required where the entrance is
from a public road with a surfaced dressed width greater than 4 m.
Government
Regulatory authorities having jurisdiction over forest development on Provincial Crown land or private land.
Such authorities include federal, provincial and local governments.
1.8. preparing road construction plan

The recommended time for road planning is prior to the commencement of planting. This will reduce the
cost of planning by making site inspection and initial alignment much easier and enable the site and road
drainage system to be planned together. It also prevents the opening up of the crop prior to thinning,
reducing the risk of wind throw. The exception is on peat soils, where tree roots can provide a base for road
formation but it is advisable to leave a 5 m wide unplanted strip beside the road site.
Plan a system of roads as soon as possible, even though construction work may not be carried out for a
number of years. Good planning will ensure access to the maximum volume of timber with the minimum
width of road. Not only should the road density be correct, but the roads should be in the right place to
facilitate harvesting and minimize environmental impact.
The three basic steps in road planning are:

thorough site inspection of the area;
initial road alignment on map; and
confirm alignment by walking road lines and amends s as necessary.
Forest road planning is the first phase of a forest road construction project. At this stage the need for a road
has been identified and the forest owner/agent must now identify the criteria which must be met to achieve
the desired objectives.
The objectives to be achieved by a forest road must be clear. The primary purpose of a forest road is that it
must be capable of safely carrying timber haulage vehicles. It must also provide satisfactory access to the
forest property and work areas and have minimal impact on its surrounding environment.
Potential environmental risks and construction difficulties are identified at this stage, to ensure adequate
design standards consistent with minimizing environmental impacts and construction difficulties.
To achieve appropriate standards, forest road designers will normally be engineers with considerable
forestry experience.
In designing a forest road system, the designer must take care to ensure that it causes least impact to the
public road network. Forest road entrances should be kept to a minimum and they should be located
wherever possible on the better quality public roads.
GUIDELINES for forest road planning;
1. Roading plans to be prepared well in advance of harvesting and transport operations to enable the roads to
be located on alignments and grades that provide the required standard of access.
2. Roads to be kept to the minimum total width consistent with management objectives, located in the best
landscape position possible, constructed under suitable weather conditions and well consolidated before use.
3. Roading plans to be based on detailed surveys and environmental care principles that ensure that all
environmentally sensitive locations are identified and appropriate design and construction techniques
adopted.
4. Identify if the road plan could create any local social/community impacts.
5. Identify the impacts of the forest road construction to the environment
To protect soil productivity, the design, construction and maintenance of forest roads should achieve the
following beneficial outcomes:
• A well-planned road system that efficiently accesses as many acres as possible with the least amount of
site occupied over the long term, with no more than 1-2% of the management area occupied by roads
Construction planning is a fundamental and challenging activity in the management and execution of
construction projects. Forming a construction plan is a highly challenging task.
1.9. Establishing Communication with others
Discuss the consequences related to forest road construction in relation to environmental interests and
society in general:
 Access to the existing forest resources, present situation and future needs;
 cost-benefit analysis in relation to future forest road construction;
 Consequences in relation to cultural heritage and interests of environmental and recreational
use.
Unit Respond to emergency

Self check#1
Module Responding to emergency
LO1 Preparing for emergency situation
Give short answer for the following Q

1. What is near miss report
2. What is occupational health and safety?
3. What is emergency?
4. What are the procedures of emergency management?
Information
Manage forest road construction and maintenance
Unit
sheet # 2 Module Managing forest road construction and maintenance
LO2 Implement Forest Road Construction
2.1. Coordinating personnel, materials and equipment required for the construction
Contractors who have received their road project contract in competition with other bidders are the ones
building most forest roads.
The form, which is sent out to potential contractors, gives information on who is receiving the form,
describes road location and road standards and invites to an explanatory meeting and a survey of the road
location. Deadline for submission of the bid estimate, the date of announcement of the contract offer, the
date of written confirmation on the contract offer and the date of completion of the road completion are
included.
The form outlines specifications related to the bidding procedure and specifies all written documentation
that is part of the contract requirements.
Copies of all relevant documents are usually available at the explanatory meeting, where the tenders are also
informed if the use a specific type of equipment is obligatory on the project,
The work is divided into individual work segments with unit prices specified for each segment. The
contractor specifies what type of equipment/machinery he has available and lists the hourly prices for all
equipment and manpower available in case additional work is required.
COMMONLY USED LOCAL MATERIALS IN FOREST ROAD PAVEMENTS
Road base, gravel, crushed rock, sand and bluestone, together with cords and pipes for water crossings.
The most commonly used local materials in forest road pavements are shale s, schist s, sandstones, gravels
and glacial drift material from drumlins and moraines.
While most of those aggregates perform well as a capping layer and are suitable when covered by a sub base
of NRA specification material they should not form a pavement alone unless they pass certain Soil
Mechanics tests.
Under no circumstances should material contain more than 6% plastic fines (clays/organic material).
A layer of concrete, stone, timber or other permanent material placed at the entrance or outlet of a structure,
such as a culvert, to prevent scour by water.
recognize that inexpensive, robust, hand-held instruments (for example, a hand compass, clinometer and
nylon tape) can provide sufficient accuracy for routine work in mountainous terrain and that, generally, a
theodolite and leveling instrument are only used for expensive structures
In most cases, fairly simple tools are used in setting out forest roads. These include a scale rule, protractor,
measuring tapes, magnetic compass, or clinometers and ranging rods. The road line will normally be marked
out with pegs at 30 m maximum intervals, but marker tape will often be used where construction work will
follow on soon after layout.
Distance and bearing measurements are commonly used in surveying forest road positions. However, when
using a compass, the user must check the angle of declination (difference between true north on the 6” OS
map and magnetic north on the ground).
-Equipment selection for road construction involves a choice of tools, machines, techniques and methods.
 The essential requirements for hand-tools in labor-intensive methods, and for equipment in machine-
intensive methods, are that they:
• be strong and durable, given the working conditions
• perform effectively
• be suitably configured for the operational tasks
• receive appropriate service and repair
• be cost-effective to rent, lease or purchase as appropriate
The primary objective, when selecting tools and equipment for use in rough conditions at remote locations,
is to satisfy technical specifications appropriate to the construction activities. Experience shows that a
consideration of minimum price does not yield cost-benefits.
Equipment selection
• use a mattock for root excavation of small trees
• use a mattock, spade and shovel for removal of unsuitable topsoil (for example, humus and organic soils)
from the road sub grade
• use a hoe, forked hoe and pick-axe to loosen and excavate soil
• use a rake or rake hoe to collect and level soil
• use wheel-barrows, head-baskets and pack-animals for hauling materials to fill locations
• use a hand-rammer for initial compaction of fill, but consider the use of a drum-roller for compaction of
the final surface
In principle, a smaller machine tends to be more man severable, and is better suited to forestry applications
so long as imposed demands do not exceed machine capacity. It is important to ensure individual machines
are equipped with the correct optional extras.
Recommended practices for selection and use of machines are as follows:

• use a bulldozer (track-type tractor with a dozer blade) in applications of land clearing (for example,
grubbing and stripping) and for earth moving over moderate distances (for example, less than 100m)match
the capacity of tractor unit (for example, weight and horsepower) and the characteristics of dozer blade (for
example, push capacity, load retention, and control of angle and tilt) to achieve optimal production, taking
into account the material to be moved (for example, particle size and shape, rippability and water content)
• consider using a specialty dozer blade for specific applications (for example, a clearing blade for shearing
stumps and brush at ground level, a front rake for shallow stripping of vegetation
• consider using a ripper-tooth for excavating dense soil and soft or fractured rock
• use of a bulldozer on steep ground may require special machine maintenance and excellent operator skill: it
is not recommended where material should be end-hauled rather than side-cast
• use a hydraulic excavator (typically a track-mounted bucket) in applications of earth removal that involve
digging, sorting (for example, rock, soil and organics), loading (for example, dump trucks to haul away
excess material) and placement of select materials (for example, rock blankets and walls)
• match the capacity of hydraulic excavator (for example, undercarriage, length of reach, and bucket
capacity) and the characteristics of bucket (for example, width, tip radius and cutting edge) to achieve
optimal production, taking into account the material to be removed (for example, soil or rock)
• consider the relative advantage of a long reach (for example, a greater range of selective digging) with that
of a short work radius (for example, a greater ease of use at confined locations)
ENDHAULING OPERATIONS
End hauling describes the transportation of material excavated in construction to anembankment location or
disposal site. The removal and transport of excavated material to a stable waste area
NOTES ON HYDRAULIC EXCAVATORS

The workspace of a hydraulic excavator allows it to obtain materials that are inaccessible to a bulldozer on
steep terrain and, since the machine is at a fixed location while working; its production is not adversely
impacted by a steep grade line
-use a motor grader in applications of gravelling and shaping the road surface (for example, finish grading)
and for ditch digging in easy ground (for example, side drains)
• Front-mountinga dozer blade on the grader yields versatility, since it can be used to spread piled material
and cleans the road surface of debris
• use a wheeled loader (front-end loader) for filling dump trucks at a borrow site (for example, bank and face
excavation at a gravel pit) or, on smaller-scaleoperations, use an excavator or a backhoe loader (farm tractor)
2.2. Road construction operational procedures
It should be remembered that tracks are intended to supplement road systems. They should be used in
situations where it would be too difficult or too costly to construct a road to the required standards.
In all cases, the construction objective is to provide a stable road surface while maintaining free flow of
water though the road bed.
When constructing forest roads it is not possible to always avoid stream and water crossings.
Where crossings are essential, Forest Service guidelines on water must be observed. Regional Fisheries
Boards must be consulted before proceeding with work and Local Authorities may also need to be
consulted.
Stream and watercourse crossings by bridge, culvert or ford must be designed to meet transport needs and
minimize impacts on the site. Relevant approvals must also be obtained.
Bridges
Bridges are to be constructed for crossings of streams and watercourses where culverts or fords are not
considered adequate. Bridge design should allow for a 1 in 25 year peak flood.
Bridges must not constrict clearly defined channels and must be designed and constructed so that the
passage of flood water is not restricted.
1. Clearing and Grubbing
One of the first steps in forest road construction is clearing and grubbing. The method of disposal of clearing
debris is important to the future stability of the road. The clearing debris must be removed from the area of
the road prism to eliminate the bridging effect that occurs when dirt is deposited against the debris. This also
eliminates a safety hazard to anyone working below the road.
The clearing and grubbing method used will be consistent with good safety and environmental practices
while keeping construction costs to a minimum.
Depending upon the design standard that was used, the road centre line and/or the cut and fill staking should
be marked on the ground prior to clearing.
The upslope and down slope boundaries of the right-of-way should be marked prior to clearing and
grubbing. The boundaries will provide the minimum width needed to construct the desired road. This will
help prevent over-clearing or under-clearing. The lower boundary will be located at the base of the fill slope.
The upper boundary will be located at the top of the cut slope plus enough distance to assure that the root
systems of remaining trees will not be damaged by the excavation of the road prism.
Clearing. Trees and other large vegetation within the right-of-way boundaries should be felled and bucked.
In addition hazardous snags and unsafe trees adjacent to the right of way should also be felled at this time.
Merchantable logs should be yarded to decking areas that will not interfere with the construction of the road
or turnouts. Un merchantable material should be disposed of according to the design specifications.
Grubbing. During grubbing of the surface, all stumps and protruding objects should be removed from within
the road prism, and anywhere fill or side cast material will be deposited. Stumps and other large organic
debris in the road fill should never be left in the road prism because the voids that form when the wood
decomposes will affect the stability of the fill. All chunk s, logs and slash over approximately 3 inches in
diameter and 3 feet in length should be removed and disposed of outside of the road prism. Small amounts
of miscellaneous fine slash and small limbs are usually not a problem if they are scattered throughout the
road prism and not left in concentrations.
Options for Disposal of Clearing and Grubbing Debris

There are several options for disposing of clearing and grubbing debris. Oftentimes contract specifications
or the road design will indicate the option that will be used. If an option is not specified, the one that is
chosen should match the road design and the onsite conditions.
i. Side cast. This is very common and usually the most economical technique used for forest road
construction. Clearing debris is pushed outside of the road prism a minimum of 5 feet from the top and
bottom of cut and fill slopes. It is very important that clearing debris not be incorporated into any side cast
or fill material supporting the road. Clearing debris that is side cast on steep ground is difficult to control and
can create a safety hazard for logging crews that may be working below the road at a later time. Stumps and
logs could become dislodged and roll down the hill during the logging operation. Side casting will be limited
to slopes less than 55%. Clearing debris should not be left lodged against standing trees.
ii. Scattering. Debris is pushed or placed outside the right-of-way where natural openings in the stand
exist, provided that:
a. Debris is not pushed against trees.
b. Tops and limbs are lopped to lie flat on the ground.
c. Excessive accumulations do not result.
Scattering should be limited to slopes less than 55% for safety and economic reasons.
Scattering should also be limited to stands that are open enough to facilitate this technique (e.g., dense
reproduction and very thick hemlock stands are not conducive to scattering.)
iii. Pile and Burn. Right-of-way debris is piled in clean, burnable piles within portions of the right-of-
way, or at locations approved by the project administrator and burned.
The burning may take place prior to, during, or after sub grade construction, depending on the situation.
Right-of-way debris should be burned so that there is no residual material greater than 3 inches in diameter
and 3 feet in length. Material remaining after burning should be buried or scattered. Burning should be
required when other options are not suitable, the clearing debris must be removed from the right-of-way and
there are no waste areas for the debris available within a reasonable distance.
iv. End-haul. Right-of-way debris is pulled, pushed and/or loaded and hauled to a designated waste area.
End-hauling of clearing and grubbing debris should be considered where side slopes are greater than 55%. It
may be more economical to dispose of the limbs, tops and other small debris using another option such as
chipping and only require the end-haul of the larger debris such as stumps and cull logs.
v. Chipping and dispersal. Right-of-way debris is fed through a chipper and chips are dispersed through
openings in the trees in layers less than 36 inches thick. This method works well in thick-growing young
trees (less than about 14” in diameter) where there is limited room for scattering debris and the average size
of the clearing and grubbing debris is small enough to be chipped.
2. Leveling
3. Cut-slopes and fill-slopes
All cut- and fill slopes must be constructed at a slope angel less than the natural slide angle for the existing
material.
-Cut-slopes
Cut-slopes must be cleaned, removing peat, rocks, roots etc. that may slide into the ditch. If the cut-slopes
must be constructed steeper than the above ratios, a 0.5 metre wide zone must be made between the ditch
and the toe of the cut-slope to handle slide material.
-Fill slopes
Stumps and logging debris should not be placed in road-fills. On larger fills each layer must be individually
compressed.
4. SPREADING AND COMPACTION

Full spreading is best done by motor-grader or small dozer but delivery rate must be high if use of these
machines is to be economic. However excavators are commonly used and because of their versatility, they
are very suitable for this work. Delivery vehicles and spreading machines will partially compact the
pavement and a final grading and rolling (variable number of passes) will complete the operation.
The pavement must be compacted in layers to achieve maximum densification of the soil. This occurs with
the expulsion of air voids.
Methods of construction;
• The conventional road construction method consists of excavating the shallow peat and then backfilling
with clean granular backfill material. The excavated peat can be used to flatten the roadbed fill slope. Excess
peat should be hauled away and disposed of at an approved upland disposal site.
• Another accepted road construction method involves placing granular fill material directly onto the peat
surface. The weight of the fill material displaces (or pushes aside) the weaker peat until the strength of the
sub soils is sufficient to bear the weight of the fill material and vehicle loadings.
As final settling occurs, additional fill may be needed to maintain the desired road grade. With both
methods, the installation of culverts and ditches intercepts.
2.3. Providing technical assistance
Landowners may need the services of a forester, engineer or other qualified individual to provide complete
design and construction specifications. This professional assistance is particularly important when
constructing permanent all-season roads.
Manage forest road construction and maintenance
Information Unit
sheet # 3 Module ManagingForest Road Construction And Maintenance
LO3 Maintain Forest Roads
3.1. Assessing roads and trucks for maintenance requirement and recording outcomes
All activities to maintain the structure and function of an existing road, including reactivating existing
roads, are considered maintenance.
Road Repair is concerned with the reinstatement of road facilities to a former condition. This work is
usually associated with harvesting, as harvesting and timber haulage operations are the principal cause of
road damage. For this reason most repairs are carried out during and immediately after harvesting.
Road Maintenance is concerned with keeping roads, not currently in use, in a usable condition. It should be
carried out on an ongoing basis and particular attention should be given to the maintenance of drains and
culverts. It is best carried out during summer months.
WHY MAINTAIN AND REPAIR ROADS?
Maintenance and repair is necessary for:
i. the preservation of the capital asset;
ii. the continued safety of the users;
iii. access for emergency services (i.e. fire brigade/ambulances); and
iv. to reduce vehicle operating costs.
-Road repairs should be carried out to an acceptable standard as soon as possible following damage.
Restoration is needed after harvesting to prevent or minimise serious deterioration if left in a damaged
condition.
-The minimum standard of road repairs/road maintenance should be such that a road can be used by
emergency services if so required.
-Because of the nature of the individual operations the cost of repairs will nearly always be far greater than
that of maintenance.
-The frequency and degree of maintenance and repair work necessary will depend
principally on traffic intensity and the quality of original construction. Embankment roads will usually have
high maintenance costs due of settlements and deformation, particularly so on deep peat sites.
In general, road sections carrying high traffic level will experience a faster rate of roughness progression
than those with low traffic levels. Road surfacing materials with a high percentage content of coarse or large
size particles exhibit a faster rate of roughness progression when compared to road surfacing materials with
a high percentage content of fine particles.
Good practice in forest road maintenance and repair is essential to:
protect the road foundation;
disperse water;
minimise environmental impact; and
optimise return from the expenditure invested in the road network.
Roads that are open for use require more maintenance than roads that are closed to vehicular traffic. Inactive
roads (roads currently not in use), whether closed temporarily or permanently, require occasional work to
reduce potential impacts on streams, lakes, wetlands and seasonal ponds.
Road layout, construction methods and erosion and access control all contribute to the longevity, utility,
safety and maintenance costs of road systems.
Maintenance Measures for All Roads
Clean debris from culverts, ditches, dips and other structures as needed to diminish the danger of clogging
and the possibility of washouts. Any debris should be placed away from the watercourse and stabilized, if
necessary.
Restrict use of roads during times when the road is especially susceptible to damage, including wet periods
and spring break up.
The purpose of maintenance procedures is to ensure that measures taken to minimize impacts on forest
resources are working and will continue to work for the life of the road. Surfacing materials and the amount
of use will determine the level of maintenance required.
The most important objectives of maintenance operations are to:
• identify site-specific dangers that present a hazard to road users
• ensure the provisions for drainage remain functional and intercept, collect and remove water from the road
pavement and within the right-of-way
• protect against unacceptable sedimentation
• retain a sufficient aggregate thickness of road pavement to ensure structural integrity and adequately
transfer wheel loading to the sub grade soil, thereby providing a good driving surface
• eliminate corrugations, potholes and ruts
3.2. Personnel, materials and equipment required for maintenance

Maintenance of forest roads is a practical guide on various phases of road maintenance, describing summer
and winter maintenance and various types of equipment and how it should be used.
Orbit Road Milling Machine
Road Wrecker Machine
Cut-off Saw
Four-wheel Model Hy...
Wheel Press Machine
Wheel Press Machine, Ideal for Mounting/Dismounting Wheel set, Brake Disc, and Gearbox
Utility Track Vehicle
Downhole Drilling Rig
Gasoline Concrete Cutter
Gasoline Concrete Cutter with Honda Engine (Road Maintenance Equipment)
Road Cutter
Road Cutter with Comfortable and Firm Handle Grip, Applied for Highway Construction
Principal Axis
Principal Axis for Concrete, with 9/13hp Rated Power

Self-propelled Telescopic Hydraulic Man Lift
Self-propelled Telescopic Hydraulic Man Lift/18m Lift Height/270kg Loading Capacity/Straig...
 Road maintenance equipments
 Construction machinery parts
 Pipeline construction equipment
 Scissor lifts
 Concrete mixers
 Concrete pumps
3.3 Site environmental conditions
Forest roads are not all weather roads. Under certain weather conditions (severe storms, heavy snowfalls)
roads should be closed to traffic to ensure the safety of the road users and to minimise the damage caused to
the road structure.
GUIDELINES
1. Roads should be closed to timber transport in wet conditions when disturbance of surface material poses a
threat to stream water quality.
2. Timber transport should be suspended in dry weather on roads where the surface materials have
unravelled to a degree that poses a threat to stream or wetland water quality in subsequent wet weather.
3. Existing roads should be closed after heavy snowfalls in the interests of safety.
4. Roads and road structures, e.g. bridges and culverts that have been damaged by rain must be closed until
the damage is rectified.
3.4. Maintenance schedule
A maintenance plan prescribes remedial measures required to maintain road integrity and meet objectives
for user safety and environmental concerns. Where a member prepares a maintenance plan, the plan should
consider the original or amended planning objectives, including intended road use, existing road conditions,
and safety and environmental considerations that the maintenance plan is based on. A maintenance plan may
consist of general guidelines for activities such as, but not limited to, surface grading and road site brush
removal.
Where a member is retained or employed by a licensee to be responsible for maintenance of a forest road
network, the member should develop a system for conducting inspections and carrying out work needed to
maintain the integrity of the roads, and to address safety and environmental concerns.
In either the maintenance plan or maintenance of a forest road network, it is up to the member to determine
the level of detail required.
An acceptable road maintenance plan should consider:
• identifying the current or expected road use and the purpose of maintenance; for example:
o for industrial use only
o accommodating other public use as well as industrial use
o managing environmental integrity on inactive roads (for example, wilderness roads on crown land)
Setting objectives for road maintenance appropriate for road integrity, user safety, and hazard to down slope
or downstream elements at risk;
• setting hazard and risk criteria in order to prioritize road inspection schedules and maintenance work;
• setting the frequency and scope of inspection schedules commensurate with the potential for unsafe
conditions or environmental hazards;
• setting conditions of road use;
• Recognizing where member or specialist input is needed to prepare plans for specific remedial work. This
may include requirements for field reviews and professional signoff on completed work similar to that for
road construction.
• Providing for the implementation of remedial work on a priority basis flowing from inspections and road
maintenance plans.
• Tracking work that has been completed and work that remains outstanding.
Examples of maintenance work that would normally require the attention of a member or specialist
include:
• Stabilization of failing cut or fill slopes;
• Repairs to or replacement of engineered structures and stream crossing structures;
• Replacement of drainage structures under high fills;
• Road widening on steep slopes; and
• evaluating suitability of road grades or surface conditions, particularly in inclement weather, for specific
vehicle configurations.
An example of a road maintenance plan that requires the attention of a member or specialist is one that is
prepared before hauling commences on a steep grade section and may include evaluating the suitability of
road grades or surface conditions for specific vehicle configurations.
A maintenance plan that incorporates professional work should indicate where and when field reviews are
recommended to confirm that the work is being completed as intended. As with road construction, the
member should inform the licensee of the steps required for the member to confirm that the completed works
are in general conformance with the road maintenance plan. These steps would include identifying the need
for adequate field reviews being carried out at the appropriate times. The member should clarify this with the
licensee before work commences.
3.5. Operational staff, clients and contractors are communicated

The target group was all persons that are involved in forest road planning, construction and control of forest
roads - road planners, official and private consultants, road contractors and forest owners.
Manage Forest Road Construction And Maintenance
Information sheet Unit
#4 Module Managing forest road construction and maintenance
LO 4 Monitor And Review Forest Road Construction And
4.1. Monitoring construction and maintenance of roads and tracks

Effective road construction techniques minimize the disturbance to the natural flow of water over the
landscape and ensure the structural integrity of the road embankment.
The goal is to provide a simple road structure of adequate strength to support heavy vehicle traffic and
provide drainage structures to pass water at its normal level through the road corridor.
As a road is constructed, monitoring and assessing the effectiveness of forest road construction and
maintenance is the next step. This ensures that the road construction and maintenance is being followed that
reports on the results of different activities are produced, and that the effectiveness of that road construction
and maintenance decisions in achieving stated objectives and forest sustainability is assessed.
The results of the monitoring program are used to make any necessary adjustments to the long-term
management direction and the planning of operations in the next plan or phase. The on-going process of
adaptive management is critical for improving the decisions made in forest management planning.
4.2. Reviewing forest road construction and maintenance

-Inspections/Checking
-Making checks to ensure the OHS procedures are observed and followed
-Making checks to ensure the site environmental conditions are adhered to in accordance with regulations
-Making checks in accordance with organization policy to ensure that performance indicators, targets and
specifications are being met and amendments to the process or methods are undertaken
With regard to control requirements, the member/contractor must make an inspection of the completed road,
prior to issuing a completion certificate, to assure that the road has been built according to the approved plan
and the requirements set in this regulation. An Inspection/Result Control form, including an instruction for
filling out this form, has been prepared by the Ministry to assure that all aspects are considered. The form
refers to accomplishments regarding planning and hearing procedures, documented environmental
considerations, construction specifications, etc. The form must be submitted to the CG.
Regular inspection of roads during harvesting is necessary to spot trouble.

Periodic inspection of roads at other times is very important to spot incipient trouble which, if not
checked, may ultimately require expensive reconstruction. This inspection should be a routine
procedure with emphasis on periods following bad storms.
Formal inspections and feedback from users of the road determine the nature of required maintenance
operations
4.3. Analyzing the data and documentation from the construction or maintenance activities
A road plan may include:
• a list of documents that make up the road plan;
• a map showing the road location with key control points;
• Project specific road design and construction standards or reference to an appropriate design and
construction standard;
• any special conditions on use of certain road sections; for example, seasonal or weather limitations beyond
normal operating conditions;
Where road plans and construction sign-off records are available, these documents may indicate what road
use objectives were included in design, and may identify sections with specific maintenance considerations.
However, road use often changes over time and the present use may be different than the original road use
contemplated in design.
To analyse existing policies and processes related to forest road construction:
 Present policy regulations;
 Participation of the environmental authorities in the present policy regulations;
 Criteria to refuse execution of road construction projects as planned.
4.4. Preparing recommendations
Formal inspections and feedback from users of the road determine the nature of required maintenance
operations
4.5. Recording and reporting road construction and maintenance process
 may include road construction and maintenance operations, difficulties or issues faced, environmental
issues, recommendations for future work, results, costs, hazards, incidents or equipment malfunctions
 May be manual, using a computer-based system or another appropriate organizational communication
system.
Reporting road construction;
Plans on new forest road construction shall be submitted to the community authorities prior to the
construction start. This also applies to reconstruction of existing roads.
Contents of the report;
The report shall include a map indicating the road location and the woodland area tributary to the road. The
report shall furthermore indicate how the road may change the profitability of the logging within the
tributary area. In addition information is desired as to whether special environmental values exist in the area.
Expected road standard and length of the road, possible gravel pits in conjunction with the road and future
maintenance shall be mentioned.

M 05 - LG On Carrying Out Forest Road Construction and Maintenance

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M 05 - LG On Carrying Out Forest Road Construction and Maintenance

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The Government of the National State of Tigray

Bureau of Technical and Vocational Education & Training

Unit of Competence: Carry Out forest road construction and

Module Title; Carrying Out forest road construction and

LG Code: NRC NCD3M05 0117

1.2. OHS legislative and organizational requirements

1.3. Loggingand topography

1.4. Road location, design and construction requirements

Alignment and Location considerations

New and upgraded roads should be designed to:

General Construction Considerations

1.6. Log extraction methods

Extraction with ground-skidding equipment

Extraction with forwarders

1.8. preparing road construction plan

The three basic steps in road planning are:

1.9. Establishing Communication with others

Unit Respond to emergency

Give short answer for the following Q

Recommended practices for selection and use of machines are as follows:

NOTES ON HYDRAULIC EXCAVATORS

Options for Disposal of Clearing and Grubbing Debris

4. SPREADING AND COMPACTION

2.3. Providing technical assistance

3.2. Personnel, materials and equipment required for maintenance

Road Wrecker Machine

Four-wheel Model Hy...

Wheel Press Machine

Downhole Drilling Rig

Gasoline Concrete Cutter

Gasoline Concrete Cutter with Honda Engine (Road Maintenance Equipment)

Principal Axis for Concrete, with 9/13hp Rated Power

Self-propelled Telescopic Hydraulic Man Lift/18m Lift Height/270kg Loading Capacity/Straig...

 Road maintenance equipments

 Construction machinery parts

 Pipeline construction equipment

3.4. Maintenance schedule

3.5. Operational staff, clients and contractors are communicated

4.1. Monitoring construction and maintenance of roads and tracks

4.2. Reviewing forest road construction and maintenance

Regular inspection of roads during harvesting is necessary to spot trouble.

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