Forest Road Engineering Guidebook - Ministry of Forests

Forest Road Engineering Guidebook
124
Road inspection records
Remedial works
Inspection records should cover key road elements and any deficiencies
noted. Where major problems are identified, it is recommended that photographs
be taken to accompany the inspection records. A sample road inspection
and maintenance report is provided in Appendix 6.
The items to be assessed and evaluated when an inspection is carried out
include:
• user safety
• structural integrity of the road prism and clearing width
• drainage systems
• potential for transport of sediment from the road prism
• road and bridge surfaces
• safe fish passage at stream crossings.
On completion of inspections, a maintenance plan should be prepared and
maintenance works prioritized in accordance with risk. Inspection reports and
maintenance records should be retained on file for review at the request of
the district manager and for forest practice audits. Review of past reports and
records can also assist forest road managers in identifying recurrent problems
and identifying those road sections to be assigned a higher risk rating.
After a road inspection is completed, any deficiencies found must be remedied
by the earliest of the following:
• a time period that is commensurate with the risk to the road, its users,
and the environment,
• a time specified in the inspection report prepared by that person, or
• a time determined by the district manager.
The time frame for remedial action can and should be specified in the inspection
report. “Reasonable time” will vary according to the specific site and
problems identified. For example, waiting until equipment is in the area is
inappropriate where the road fill is already failing into a stream. However, it
may be appropriate to wait for equipment where a ravelling cutslope is filling
in a ditch that has a low risk of transporting sediment to a stream.