Planning Considerations for Roads, Highways and Bridges
http://www.epa.gov/OWOW/NPS/education/planroad.html
U.S.. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of VWbrter
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Water
(4503F)
EPA-841-F-95-008b
October 1995
Planning Considerations for Roads, Highways and
Bridges
The Coastal Zone Act Reauthorization Amendments (CZARA) of 1990 established goals to be achieved
for the prevention and control of runoff pollution to our coastal waters. The Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) published Guidance Specifying Management Measures for Sources of Nonpoint Pollution
in Coastal Waters, which identifies management measures and best management practices for nonpoint
source (NPS) pollution control.
Our roads, highways and bridges can be a source of a significant amount of pollution to our nation's water.
Pollution is generated during road construction, maintenance, and use. Nonpoint source pollution, or
runoff pollution, is created when chemicals, debris, fertilizers, automotive oils, debris from wearing parts,
and litter are washed off roadways and bridges during rainstorms and carried as runoff to streams, rivers,
lakes and bays.
There are many opportunities available to prevent and control runoff pollution by applying management
measures and best management practices during the planning, construction, and operation and
maintenance of highway systems. Management measures are achieved by applying best management
practices appropriate to the source of runoff, climate, and average daily traffic volume. Planning
considerations to help control runoff pollution from roads, highways, and bridges are discussed in this fact
sheet.
Road, Highway and Bridge Planning
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Poor planning can contribute to pollution problems Wetlands and vegetated areas near waterbodies can
be damaged by construction, decreasing the water quality benefits that they normally provide. Areas
susceptible to erosion, such as steep slopes or land with loose soil, can be disturbed, causing increased
sedimentation flows into receiving streams
As plans are developed for new roads, highways and bridges, or for reconstructing existing facilities, best
management practices to help reduce the volume and concentration of erosion and sedimentation
produced by the project should be incorporated into project design.
The following are some pollution prevention techniques that can be incorporated into highway planning
and design
• Evaluate alternatives for incorporating a road system or bridge into the natural
characteristics of the site. Analyze environmental features, such as topography, drainage patterns,
soils, climate, and existing land use. Natural drainage systems can be taken advantage of, clearing
and grading can be minimized, natural vegetation and buffer areas can be preserved, and sensitive
land and water areas that provide water quality benefits (e.g., wetlands, spawning waters, etc ) and
areas susceptible to erosion and sedimentation can be avoided.
• Preserve corridors for highways well in advance of construction to be certain that roads are
built where they are most suitably located in terms of environmental and economic
considerations. Lack of advance planning can lead to locating roads where\er space is available, or
not being able to build a road at all
• Avoid building roads and bridges where they will impact riparian areas adjacent to surface
waters and wetland areas. These vegetated areas provide enormous water quality benefits through
their ability to filter pollutants out of water passing through them
Road, Highway and Bridge Construction
Road, highway, and bridge construction and reconstruction generate runoff pollution by virtue of the sheer
volume of earth that must be disturbed and topsoil that is removed during these activities For example,
roads built perpendicular to slopes rather than parallel to them cut across natural drainage lines and create
excessive earth disturbance
Planning for pollution prevention and control measures in advance of and during construction can help
avoid these and other future problems
Erosion and Sediment Control
Develop a site-specific erosion and sediment control plan to minimize the impacts of runoff waters on
construction activities.
A number of provisions to lessen the environmental impacts of road construction are specified in an
erosion and sediment control plan, including measures to ensure that exposed working surfaces are kept to
a minimum, silt fences and sediment traps are optimally placed to prevent sediment from reaching drainage
systems, vehicles are washed when leaving a construction site to remove excess mud, and temporary
exit/entry roads to construction sites are provided with a coarse rock surface to prevent the transfer of soil
offsite where it will be washed into nearby drainage channels
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Chemical Use and Control
Store, handle and dispose of construction site chemicals such as herbicides, insecticides, oils, gasoline,
degreasers, antifreeze, concrete and asphalt products, sealers, paints, and wash water associated with these
products to minimize their entry into runoff. One way to do this is to provide specific areas where these
products are frequently used, such as fueling areas and equipment washing areas. This can help prevent
dangerous chemicals from entering surface waters. This measure also applies to proper storage of road
deicing materials.
Nutrient Use and Control
Fertilizers used to promote the growth of vegetation on disturbed earth can contribute excessive nitrates
and phosphates to surface waters if overused. To ensure safety, a person knowledgeable of and certified
for soil testing and nutrient application should be involved to determine the proper amount of fertilizer to
apply in a given situation and the proper timing of applications to maximize their delivery to growing
plants and minimize their entry into runoff.
Road, Highway and Bridge Operation and Maintenance
Road, highway, and bridge operation and maintenance involve inspection, routine and season-specific
maintenance, and repair of not only highways and bridges but also the rights-of-way where drainage
control facilities are located. The following are examples of some maintenance activities that provide
opportunities to prevent and control runoff pollution:
Inspection and General Maintenance
• Develop an inspection program and schedule to ensure that general maintenance is performed.
Inspect erosion and sediment control devices regularly.
• Maintain retaining walls and pavements to minimize cracks and leakage.
• Repair potholes.
• Maintain energy dissipaters and velocity controls to minimize runoff velocity and erosion.
• Properly dispose of accumulated sediment collected from detention ponds, drainage systems, and
pollution control structures, and any wastes generated during maintenance operations, in accordance
with appropriate local, state and federal regulations.
• Use techniques such as suspended tarps, vacuums or booms to prevent paint, solvents and scrapings
from becoming pollutants during bridge maintenance.
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• When blading gravel roads, take care to maintain a structurally sound surface while providing an
adequate crown and drainage so that erosion or scattering of gravel are avoided
• Develop an infrastructure safety inspection program in conjunction with general maintenance
• Keep drainage ditches free of debris
Snow and Ice Control
• Cover salt storage piles and other deicing materials to reduce contamination of surface waters
Locate them outside the 100-year floodplain
• Regulate the application of deicing salts to prevent oversalting the pavement
• Use trucks equipped with salt spreading calibration devices
• Use alternative deicing materials, such as sand or salt substitutes, where sensitive ecosystems should
be protected
• Prevent dumping of accumulated snow into surface waters or onto frozen water bodies
Right-of-Way Maintenance
• Seed and fertilize, seed and mulch, and/or sod damaged vegetated areas and slopes
• Establish pesticide/herbicide use and nutrient management programs.
• Restrict herbicide and pesticide use in highway rights-of-way to applicators certified under the
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) to ensure safe and effective
application.
• Limit the use of chemicals such as soil stabilizers, dust palliatives, sterilants, and growth inhibitors
to the best estimate of optimum application rates Try to avoid excess application and consequent
intrusion of such chemicals into surface runoff
• Regularly clean, reshape, and revegetate drainage ditches to ensure they perform as desired. Keep
ditch slopes covered with vegetation or other material
• Maintain shoulders, slopes and swales to assure their function and operation
Road Cleaning and Debris Removal
• Sweep, vacuum and wash residential streets and parking lots
• Collect and remove road debris
• Encourage litter and debris control management
• Encourage development of Adopt-a-Highway programs
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This fact sheet is the second in a series being produced jointly by EPA
and the American Public Works Association (APWA) to improve
knowledge about and efforts to control runoff pollution from roadways
and road construction activities. Working together, we can maintain
and improve our roadway systems and protect our waters.
Sources of Additional Information
United States Environmental Protection Agency Nonpoint Source and NPDES Storm
Water Coordinators:
U.S. EPA Region I (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont) NFS
(617) 565-4426, NPDES Storm Water (617) 565-3610
U.S. EPA Region H (New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands) NPS (212) 637-3700, NPDES
Storm Water (212) 637-3767
U.S. EPA Region m (Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia) NPS (215) 597-9077,
NPDES Storm Water (215) 597-6511
U.S. EPA Region IV (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina,
Tennessee) NPS (404) 347-2126, NPDES Storm Water (404) 347-2019
U.S. EPA Region V (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin) NPS (312) 353-2079,
NPDES Storm Water (312) 353-2121
U.S. EPA Region VI (Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas) NPS (214) 665-7135,
NPDES Storm Water (214) 665-7170
U.S. EPA Region VH (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska) NPS (913) 551-7030, NPDES Storm Water
(913)551-7034
U.S. EPA Region VDI (Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming) NPS (303)
293-1565, NPDES Storm Water (303) 293-1623
U.S. EPA Region IX (Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada) NPS (415) 744-1953, NPDES Storm Water
(415)744-2001
U.S. EPA Region X (Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington) NPS (206) 553-4013, NPDES Storm Water
(206)553-0966
U.S. EPA Headquarters, Nonpoint Source Control Branch NPS (202) 260-7100, NPDES Storm Water
(202)260-9541
Federal Highway Administration Local Transportation Assistance Program (LTAP)
Technology Transfer (T2) Centers:
The LTAP program provides training and technical assistance to local/tribal government transportation
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Planning Considerations for Roads, Highways and Bridges
http./Avww.epa.gov/OWOW/NPS/education/planroad html
agencies on roads and bridges. For the location of the LTAP T2 center in your state, contact the T2
Clearinghouse at (202) 347-7267.
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