Gravel Roads
The Gravel Road Management team is comprised of both full-time and seasonal employees. Our services provide for the maintenance of gravel roads which include grading, shaping, stabilizing, placing new gravel, washout repair, dust mitigation and snow removal throughout Weld County.
Gravel roads differ greatly throughout the county due to the volume and type of traffic along with many other factors. For these reasons, road grading schedules vary from weekly, monthly or longer as deemed appropriate. Routine grading of the County’s gravel roads usually involves two or three passes. During the grading operation a windrow will be worked from the shoulder of the road to the other shoulder of the road.
During dry periods gravel roads, by nature are dusty and when they become wet due to rain or snow, they can become muddy. Many factors go into the determination of the grading frequency, but we make every effort to grade a road when it is needed. Surface gravel is replenished on each mile of road on a 5, 7, or 9-year schedule. Graveling a road can happen any time in the year depending on material availability and trucking schedules.
Potholes and washboards occur on gravel roads when there isn’t enough moisture and there is an increase in traffic patterns or truck traffic. The grader operator tries to address these during regular grading operations. When potholes and washboards are filled with the same material and do not have enough moisture, the holes and washboards will reappear quickly, especially under heavy traffic. Excessive cutting of the road surface is not a good idea because of the thin, fragile driving surface found on most gravel roads. This can be quickly damaged and could result in significant blowouts and soft spots.
Roadway Dust Control
Dust control products are applied to gravel roads to inhibit fugitive dust when the vehicle traffic count exceeds 200 vehicles per day as determined by three different counts during a year and is considered a permanent traffic generator. The dust control agents used by the County are environmentally friendly products and are considered intermediate solutions to reduce dust on the gravel roads for a period of time.
When a roadway segment meets the criteria for County mitigation, the County may, when practical and within budgetary constraints, select one of the following alternatives to mitigate dust:
- Surface treatment using dust control agents with a frequency of no more than two applications per year at the County’s discretion
- Six-inch stabilized aggregate base using dust control agents
- Paving, Recycled Asphalt Pavement (RAP), or Chip Seal
- Speed limit reduction
- Periodic watering
Landowners may also choose to have dust suppression treatments made at their own expense to mitigate dust on County roads in front of their homes.
Roadway Stabilization
Stabilization activities are used when normal maintenance activities are not able to keep up with the roadway deterioration in a timely manner. Different materials can be used depending on the road and the problem. The process involves watering, reclaiming, and rolling of the road. Depending on the circumstances sometimes areas are dug out, chemical is injected, and the areas are filled in with gravel, road base or asphalt millings before the road driving surface is top dressed with gravel.
Useful Links
Approved Companies for Private Dust Control Treatments on Roads
Dust Control and Road Acceptance Policy
Frequently Asked Questions
I drive on a gravel road that has potholes and washboards in it. The grader fills the holes and cuts the washboards, but they return very quickly.
When the road is bladed and the holes and washboards are filled with the same material and do not have sufficient moisture, the holes will reappear quickly, especially under heavy traffic. During dry periods we strive to grade roads as often as possible and replenish the surface gravel with the best material the budget allows. When grading is not feasible, holes are filled with material and sufficient moisture to prevent them from returning quickly. Excessive cutting of the road surface is not a good idea because the thin, fragile driving surface found on most gravel roads can be quickly damaged.
What is the material sprayed on the roads by your tanker trucks?
Tanker trucks are used on gravel roads for dust suppression. If very temporary dust suppression is needed water may be used. For longer term dust suppression, various environmentally-friendly dust control agents are used.
The grader leaves a windrow in the road and won’t pull over to let me pass.
Routine grading of a gravel road usually involves two passes. During this operation, it can be expected that a windrow will be placed close to the center of the road until the grader comes back to move it to the other side. Normally the road width will allow passing without the grader pulling over. If you encounter a grader in an area that does not allow passing please be patient, the operator is instructed to let you pass as soon as possible.
How often are County gravel roads graded?
Gravel roads differ greatly throughout the county due to the volume and type of traffic along with many other factors. Because of these reasons, road grading schedules vary from weekly, monthly or longer as deemed appropriate.
I live near a gravel road that is dusty. What can be done?
This policy is controlled by the Weld County Code, Section 8-6-100 which may provide for dust suppression funded by the County, subject to budgetary constraints, on roads that have confirmed traffic counts of 200 vehicles per day or higher. It also allows for the application of dust suppression at the expense of citizens who elect to mitigate dust on the County road. Please check with the Weld County Public Works for more information or fill out the Online Comment and Concern Form.
I live on a gravel road and would like to have it paved. Who do I talk to?
The Board of County Commissioners approve the paving of all county roads. Since not all local and collector roads get paved, many factors are taken into consideration. These factors include road classification, traffic counts, percentage of truck traffic, safety, continuity and mobility. These scenarios are highly variable and typically site specific. As a result, it is difficult to implement a “one-size-fits-all” standard. Therefore, recommendations made by Public Works to the Board are determined on a case-by-case basis.