Low-Volume Roads Engineering: Best Management Practices

The concept and application of best management practices (BMPs) for low-volume roads projects were studied. BMPs are techniques or design practices that will prevent or reduce nonpoint pollution, maintain water quality, and help produce well-built roads. A Low-Volume Roads Engineering Best Management Practices Field Guide was developed to address those key practices. Roads that are not well planned or located, not properly designed or constructed, not well drained, not well maintained, or not made with durable materials often produce negative impacts, most of which are preventable with good engineering and road management practices. A number of key practices and design techniques can be used to prevent adverse impacts on roads. First a road must serve the needs of the user through good transportation system planning. Long-term cost-effectiveness and minimized impacts are then achieved through application of good design and maintenance practices, including a road location that avoids problematic areas such as slides or springs; positive surface drainage; adequately sized and appropriate drainage crossing structures; stable cut and fill slopes; use of erosion control measures; roadway surface stabilization; and materials source development with subsequent site reclamation.