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. , <br /> 1 <br /> Feb. 8. 1983 BiKEWAYS -42. ' <br /> methods may be found in the Mn/DOT "Standard Specifi- X. MAINTENANCE ' <br /> cation for Highway Construction", current edition sec- <br /> tions 1717, 1803, 2105 and 2575. Maintenance of a bicycle facility, after it has been <br /> constructed, is an important factor for the successful ' <br /> operation and usaqe of the facility by cyclists. Poor main- <br /> IX. VEGETATION CONTROL tenance resultinq in the accumulation of sand, qravel, <br /> broken qlass, branches, etc., on the facility or development ' <br /> Control of veqetation is qenerally considered to be of potholes, corruqations and other rouqh surface con- <br /> the responsibility of maintenance forces, however, in order ditions will cause cyclists to avoid the facility. The resuit <br /> to provide better control it should also be considered may be that the facility becomes a liability rather than <br /> durinq desiqn and construction. an asset to the controlling agency. Therefore, the respon- ' <br /> sibility for maintenance of the facility must be established <br /> The followinq are examples of veqetation control prior to construction. Normally, if the facility is located <br /> methods which may be provided for or carried out during on the highway shoulder the maintenance of the facility <br /> the desiqn and construction of bikeways. will be the responsibility of appropnate highway agency. ' <br /> If the facility is separated from the roadway the main- <br /> 1. Placement of a qeneral herbicide (such as Urox tenance of the facility will be the responsibility of the <br /> Liquid or Oxy Monobor-Chlorate) under asphalt pavinq. appropriate local or other qovernmental aqency. ' <br /> These herbicides will prevent veqetative qrowth from pene- <br /> tratinq the asphalt pavinq for a number of years. It is quite Althouqh the desiqner is not responsible for mainten- <br /> common for thin bituminous surfaces with shallow sub- ance, there are a number of factors that can be incor- <br /> surface treatment, such as walkinq trails, to be ruined porated into the desicg� which will facilitate the necessary ' <br /> by vegetation. maintenance operations. The following is a partial check- <br /> list of items to be conadered durinq design: <br /> 2. Requirinq the contractor to control noxious weeds <br /> durinq construction. The following nine weeds have been 1. Is the facility of sufficient width (especially off- <br /> desiqna <br /> ted noxious weeds on a state wide basis. road bikeways) to accommodate maintenance vehicles?� <br /> Canada Thistle Sow Thistle 2. Is the structure thickness of the facility adequate to ' <br /> Bull Thistle Musk Thistle support maintenance or emergency vehicles? <br /> Plumeless Thistle Wild Hemp <br /> Poison ivy Leafy Spurqe 3. Has access to the facility for maintenance or emer- <br /> Fieid Bindweed qency vehicles been provided (especially on off•road bike- ' <br /> ways)? <br /> The Agricultural Weed Law of Minnesota requires <br /> the control of at least these nine weeds. In the prepara- 4. Has sufficient clearing or qrubbinq been provided for <br /> tion of plans and provisions for the construcuon of bike- adequate siqht distance and horizontal and verucal clear- ' <br /> ways the responsibility for control of these noxious weeds ances? <br /> during construction can be delegated to the contractor. <br /> 5. Have adequate cross slopes, drainaqe structures and ' <br /> 3. Selective vegetation removal should be required in ditches been provided to insure qood drainaqe? <br /> order to remove low hanqinq branches and other vege- <br /> 6. Are designed plantings in locations that will not <br /> tative qrowth which has encroached onto the bikeway. �ome a hazard or create sight distance problems in the ' <br /> These encroachments may reduce the cyclist's siqht dis- future. <br /> tance and can cause personal injury to the cyclist. <br /> 7. Have "maintainable" side slopes been planned? <br /> 8. Have driveways and intersectinq roadways been paved ' <br /> beyond the bikeway (10 feet or more) to minimize <br /> amounts of qravel and dirt dropped on the bikeway by ' <br /> by crossing motor vehicles? <br /> The above checklist is not a complete list but doe <br /> qive some of the items to be considered durinq the desiqn <br /> staqe. The desiqner may wish to contact maintenance per- <br /> sonnel for additional items. <br /> ' <br />