FSH 7709.56 - ROAD PRECONSTRUCTION HANDBOOK
10/85 R-1 SUPPLEMENT 1
CHAPTER 4 - DESIGN
4.1 - DESIGN CRITERIA. Obsolete, delete this supplement in it’s entirety.
1. Resource Management Objectives Refer to FSM 7714-Road, Trail and Management
Objectives. FSH 7709.59_20 – Traffic Management states: See Engineering
Manual EM-7100-15, "Sign and Poster Guidelines for the Forest Service," for
specific policy and guidelines regarding the planning, acquisition, design,
installation, and maintenance of road signs, gates, traffic control devices, and
markings.
Road Closure Devices. Install and maintain road closure devices commensurate
with resource management objectives as indicated by the approved Traffic Service Level and
frequency of use. Failure to do so can compromise the basic design premise.
Road closure devices should be installed at road intersections and in close proximity to and in
sight of turnarounds.
Several closure devices should be installed at road intersections and in close proximity to and in
sight of turnarounds.
a. Consider the use of just a "Road Closed" sign when:
1) a high degree of compliance is not critical;
2) a relatively low risk of resource damage can be anticipated; or
3)failure to notice or recognize a barrier would result in a serious safety hazard.
b. Use standard manufactured gates unless custom-made gates, such as Forest Service
designed pipe gates, will result in reduced overall costs considering first cost and maintenance
over a 10 year period.
c. Use standard manufactured gates or pipe gates when road use will be intermittent or
restricted.
d. If road access is needed within 5 years after closure, close the road with fixed barriers
such as concrete median barriers or highway guardrail sections.
e. For longer closures, beyond 5 years, close the road with earth barriers.
Sign all road closures in accordance with FSH 7109.31 (MUTCD) and the appropriate road
closure regulation. If it is possible to approach the closure from both directions, install warning
signs and/or markers facing both directions.
FSH 7709.56 - ROAD PRECONSTRUCTION HANDBOOK
10/85 R-1 SUPPLEMENT 1
6. Traffic Service Levels. Local roads will normally be Traffic Service Level C or D;
Collectors, B or C; and Arterial, A or B. Updated by FSH 7709.56_4_41- Design
Criteria.
9. Economics. Base the initial design criteria for a road on the need to provide basic utility
and necessary safety features. Updated by FSM 7721.1 – Design.
As other design criteria are added for resource protection and other concerns, identify and
document the incremental cost increases to accommodate or mitigate each concern. This process
can contribute to improved economics and permit evaluation of each project by Value Analysis
procedures.