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Construction entrances and exits are temporary stone-stabilized areas located at the points of ingress and egress of the vehicles. The purpose of construction entrances/exits is to provide a stable pathway to keep the mud and sediment off the public roads.
Construction entrance/exit is considered as one of the means to control soil erosion and sediment deposits at the site. Though mostly overlooked, it is considered as one of the best management practices (BMPs) for construction sites.
This article explains the planning, design, and maintenance requirements for making a construction entrance/exit at the construction site.
Contents:
Planning of Construction Entrance/Exit
Some essential tips to be followed while planning a construction entrance/exit are listed below:
- Do not locate construction entrance/exit on curves of public roads or on steep slopes.
- If the gravel present at the construction entrance/exit is not sufficient to completely remove the mud from the tires, the vehicle must be washed separately.
- The construction entrance/exit and stabilization of construction roads must go hand in hand to reduce the amount of mud picked up by the vehicles.
- Construction entrance/exit is useful in areas where the sediment control and soil erosion are a strict requirement.
Design Recommendation for Construction Entrance/Exit
- The area for the construction entrance/exit must be cleaned and prepared first by removing vegetation and any undesirable materials. The grade must be prepared for positive drainage.
- The stones used for the construction entrance/exit can be either reclaimed stone or recycled stone with sizes ranging from 1 to 3 inches.
- The dimensions of the construction entrance/exit pad must have a minimum length of 50 feet. For the construction of small residential buildings, the minimum length of the construction entrance/exit can be 30 feet. The longer the construction entrance/exit, the better is the cleaning action. The construction entrance/exit can be 10 feet or the full width of the construction access road, whichever is greater. The thickness of the construction entrance/exit must be a minimum of 6 inches.
- Before laying the stone pad, a geotextile filter fabric must be laid over the earth's surface to reduce the migration of soil particles from the underlying soil to the pad or vice-versa. It is not mandatory for small-scale residential construction.
- A ridge is constructed across the foundation when the slope of the construction entrance/exit is greater than 1:50. It takes a slope of 3:1 and a height of 6 to 8 inches. It is located at a distance of around 15 feet from the entrance. This way, the runoff water is diverted away from the public road.
- The water redirected towards the construction site is taken away by a berm of slope 5:1 located beneath the entrance.
- If the mud is not completely removed from the vehicle, the tires must be washed before entering the road or the street. The wash areas must be at level with a commercial rack or stone pad. The washed water must be directed to any sediment trapping system to prevent the sediment from entering the watercourses.
Maintenance of Construction Entrance/Exit
- The stabilization of the construction entrance/exit must be maintained until most of the construction area is fully stabilized.
- Add stone and gravel periodically to the construction entrance/exit for effective functioning.
- The mud and sediments that have moved onto the public road should be washed and removed immediately.
- Inspect the construction entrance and exit pad weekly, especially after heavy rain and use.
- The construction entrance/exit pad can be reshaped for drainage and runoff control.
- Once the stabilization work is completed, it is advised to remove all the temporary erosion and sediment control measures within 30 days. The sediments that are trapped must be removed or stabilized on site.
FAQs
Construction entrances or exits are temporary stone-stabilized areas located at the points of ingress and egress of the vehicles. The purpose of construction entrances or exits is to provide a stable pathway to keep the mud and sediment off the public roads
The purpose of construction entrances or exits is to provide a stable pathway to keep the mud and sediment off the public roads.
Construction entrance/exit is considered as one of the means to control soil erosion and sediment deposits at the site. This is hence one of the best management practices (BMPs) followed in the construction site.
The maintenance required for construction entrance/exit include:
1. The stabilization of the construction entrance/exit must be maintained until most of the construction area is fully stabilized.Â
2. Add stone and gravel periodically to the construction entrance/exit for effective functioning.
3. The mud and sediments that have moved onto the public road should be washed and removed immediately.
4. Inspect the construction entrance and exit pad weekly, especially after heavy rain and use.
5. The construction entrance/exit pad can be reshaped for drainage and runoff control.
6. Once the stabilization work is completed, it is advised to remove all the temporary erosion and sediment control measures within 30 days. The sediments that are trapped must be removed or stabilized on site.Â
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