Procedure for setting out a roadline
Planning, designing and setting out a roadlineA key input to roadline planning is the road specification (also called the road standard); these vary with the purpose of the road. They include the required width, maximum grade and curve radius. These parameters should be clearly defined so that they are consistent with the proposed harvest plan.
Many forest companies develop their own set of road standards to suit their specific needs and conditions. Standards may need to be flexible. For example, the maximum grade may need to be exceeded for very short segments in difficult terrain to reach a critical control point like a river crossing or landing, or to meet environmental requirements.
Note that WorkSafe’s Approved Code of Practice for Safety and Health in Forest Operations states that the maximum grade for any road used for log cartage with on-highway trucks is not to exceed 20% (or 11 degrees) at its steepest. The exception is that roads used by off-highway or other specialist vehicles may be steeper, provided:
- They are designed to cope with the steeper gradient; and
- The operation has a written site-specific hazard control procedure.
A commonly used set of road standards for forest roads is divided into four broad classes or categories:
- Arterial
- Secondary
- Spur
- Establishment.
Typical forest road classes