RURAL ROAD MAINTENANCE

The basic objective of road maintenance is to ensure the road that has
been constructed or improved, is to the extent possible kept in its original
condition. All roads require maintenance as they are subjected to traffic
and the forces of weather. Even with the highest possible quality of
construction, maintenance is essential to get optimum service from the
road structure during its design life.
KROW ECNANETNIAM ENITUOR

The purpose of road maintenance is

to ensure that the road remains
serviceable until the end of its design
life. Maintenance therefore performs
the important function of:

· Prolonging the life of the road

by reducing the rate of
deterioration (both on-
carriageway as well as off-carriageway), thereby safeguarding
previous investments in construction and rehabilitation;
· Lowering the cost of operating vehicles on the road by providing a
smooth running surface;
· Keeping the road open on a continuous basis by preventing it from
becoming impassable.

Road maintenance comprises activities to keep pavement, shoulders,

slopes and drainage facilities and all other structures and property within
the road margins as near as possible to their “as-constructed” or renewed
condition. It includes minor repairs and improvements to eliminate the
cause of defects and to avoid excessive repetition of maintenance efforts.
For management and operational convenience, road maintenance is
categorized as either routine, periodic, and emergency/urgent.

Routine Maintenance is required continuously on every road whatever

its engineering characteristics or traffic volume. Routine maintenance
activities are usually small-scale, widely dispersed, and often performed
using manual labour. The need for routine maintenance to a large degree
can be forecast and is scheduled at fixed time intervals during the year.
Routine maintenance should be carried out on every road regularly to
prevent premature deterioration of the roads and it is the responsibility of
the engineers to ensure that funds are budgeted in the annual
maintenance plan. The frequency of activities varies Routine
maintenance activities are further defined as either cyclic or reactive,
although the distinction between these terms is not always very clear.
Cyclic activities are performed at predetermined intervals throughout the year
purely as a preventive measure because of events we know will occur (e.g. cleaning
drains before and during seasonal rainfall).

Reactive activities are performed in response to a triggering condition that requires

action before the problem gets out of hand (e.g. blocked culvert, crack sealing and
pothole patching).

Maintenance activities are also categorised based on where the works are located:

Off-carriageway works consist of maintaining

shoulders and drains, including repairs to
drainage and other structures in the roadside
area, side slopes and all surface areas within the
road reserve. Most off-carriageway
maintenance is normally a routine activity,
although occasionally some major overhauls are
required.

On-carriageway works relate to road

pavement and surface repairs. This work mainly
consists of maintaining a good running surface
on the road, free from any obstructions and
damage and with the necessary camber or
cross-fall to secure proper surface drainage.

Prioritizing Routine Maintenance Work Activities

The priority of activities for routine maintenance may differ from area to area
according to the prevailing conditions. Roads through mountainous areas are prone
to landslides and washouts during intense rains and need regular inspections during
this period. Equally, in flood prone areas, the proper functioning of cross-drainage
structures is vital to the protection of the road embankment from overtopping and
washouts. When priorities are set, the climatic conditions must be considered.
Certain activities are more important during the rainy season while others are best
carried out during the dry periods of the year. Obviously, good management of the
roads would suggest that the drainage system is in good order before the rains
commence. During the rainy season, it is crucial to ensure that the drainage functions
as intended. Concrete and bituminous works are best carried out during the dry
season.
Routine Maintenance Activities

Routine maintenance of rural roads can be carried out by local labour for off-
carriageway work activities while the on-carriageway work activities are carried out
by experience contractors. The following table provides a list of priorities for routine
maintenance according to the weather seasons.

Season Priority Maintenance Activity Where

1 § Clean culvert and other cross-drainage Off-carriageway

2 § Clean side drains and mitre drains Off-carriageway

Before 3 § Clean and repair shoulders Off-carriageway

the rainy
season 4 § Repair erosion on side drain slopes and in drains Off-carriageway

5 § Patch potholes and seal cracks On-carriageway

6 § White wash road furniture Off-carriageway

1 § Inspect and remove obstacles from roadway and drains On/Off-carriageway

During 2 § Clean culverts and other cross drainage Off-carriageway

rainy
season 3 § Clean side drains, cut-off drains and mitre drains Off-carriageway

4 § Repair side drain erosion Off-carriageway

1 § Repair erosion on shoulders, side slopes and in drains Off-carriageway

End of
rainy 2 § Repair retaining walls Off-carriageway
season
3 § Cut grass and clear bush Off-carriageway

1 § Repair drainage structures Off-carriageway

During
dry 2 § Repair road shoulders and surface/carriageway edges On/Off-carriageway
season
3 § Patch potholes and seal cracks On-carriageway

RM-01.01: Cleaning culvert, inlets and outlets

This activity includes clearing and cleaning of
debris, sand and silt, vegetation of the culvert
openings and catch-water pits without causing
damage to any part of the structure. Cleared
materials should be disposed off at least 3m
clear of the road and the drainage system
downhill from the road or as directed by the
Engineer.
RM-01.02: Clearing debris at bridges and causeways
This activity includes clearing of silt, debris and
litter around the structure, its abutments and
piers and for a minimum distance of 25 metres
both up stream and down stream thereby
allowing water to flow freely and unhindered. All
matter should be removed clear of the river and
the drainage system to prevent it from being
washed back into the waterway.

RM-01.03: Clearing, cleaning, reshaping, deepening and erosion

repairs to side drains, mitre and catch-water/cut-off drains
This activity includes cleaning of debris and
siltation from side ditches and turnouts/mitre-
drains, cut-off/catch-water drains including
minor reshaping to restore bottom level and
gradient in order to ensure free flow of water
collected from the roadway. These drains
should retain its intended cross sections and
grades as directed by the Engineer. This activity
shall only proceed after grass cutting/bush
clearing on the same section of the road has been completed and inspected.

RM-01.04: Repair of damaged drain lining

This activity includes provision of construction
materials and repair of damaged drain lining to
its intended shape and specification as directed
by the Engineer. The masonry work shall be
cured for at least 4 days.

RM-01.05: Repair and replace scour checks

This activity includes repairing, replacing
damaged or severely eroded scour checks and
construction of new scour checks using wooden
stakes and/or boulders as directed by the
Engineer. This activity shall only proceed after
ditch maintenance activities on the same
section of road have been completed, inspected
and approved.
RM-01.06: Repair rain cuts and minor slips on embankment side slopes

This activity consists of earth work for

restoration of rain cuts in embankments side
slopes. This activity should normally be
preceded by (first removing the cause)
reshaping the shoulders and filling in ruts.
Damages to side slopes may also take place as
a result of too steep slope gradients or poorly
compacted fills. Steep slopes can be adjusted
to achieve a gentle slope. If there is no available
space, the alternative is to build a short retaining
wall/ toe wall (extra work).

RM-01.07: Earthen shoulder repair

This activity includes making up the irregularities/loss of material such as erosion
gullies and potholes on shoulder to design level and cross-fall by adding fresh
approved selected soil and compacting it with appropriate equipment or hand
rammer as per the requirement as directed by the Engineer. If the shoulders are not
kept intact at the level of the surfacing, the edge of the surfacing will start to break off
and more extensive repairs are required.

damaged shoulder causing

stagnant water

RM-01.08: Reshape shoulder

This activity includes removing excess material on the shoulders. Excess material
on the shoulders blocks run-off from the carriageway. Water then ponds on the edge
of the road and penetrates and softens the pavement and shoulders and cause
pavement and shoulder failures.

debris on shoulder preventing water

from exiting the carriageway
RM-01.09: Cutting of tree branches and shrubs
This activity includes cutting of tree
branches and shrubs from roadway
including disposing of all cuttings to
suitable locations as directed by the
Engineer. Cut all branches of trees
extending above the roadway as to
provide a clear height of 5m above the
road surface and shoulders.

ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WORK

RM-01.10: Trimming of grass and weeds
Trimming of grass and weeds from
roadway or within the road reserve
including disposing of all cuttings to
suitable locations as directed by the
Engineer. However, the grass roots
should not be removed (grubbing) to
protect from erosion in the drains and
slopes.

RM-01.11: Planting grass for erosion protection

The activity includes furnishing and
planting turf and sods, achieving a
healthy stable covering of grass which
will maintain its growth in any weather.
This is to prevent erosion of the material
in which it is planted and stability of side
slopes and embankments.

RM-02.01: Light grading of unsealed roads (gravel roads)

This activity is done by using
mechanical means where the surface of
gravel roads are graded to remove
corrugations, shallow ruts and potholes
and minor defects to maintain and
restore a smooth riding surface of the
camber. Maintaining a proper camber of
minimum 5% to 6% on gravel roads is
crucial to their performance and will
drastically reduce development of
potholes, ruts and shoulder erosion.
RM-02.02: Bituminous pavement repair including filling of potholes
and patch repairs
This activity includes the removal of all failed
material in pavement courses up to the affected
depth including the root cause of failure, the
trimming of the compacted excavation to
provide firm vertical faces; back filling of
excavate to obtain
excavated area in layers to the specification as “square” edges fill compacted in layers

per the original construction; application of 1 cm

prime/tack coat on the base and the sides of

excavations prior to placing of any bituminous
materials and compact, trimming and finishing of the surfaces of all patches to form
a smooth continuous surface, level with the surrounding road.

RM-02.03: Carriageway repair including filling of potholes and minor

reshaping of gravel roads
This activity includes the removal of all failed
excavated to obtain
“square” edges material in gravel and base courses up to the
affected depth including the root cause of
failure, the trimming of the compacted
excavation to provide firm vertical faces; back
fill compacted in 5 cm layers filling of excavated area in layers to the
2 cm
specification as per the original construction;
trimming and finishing of the surfaces of all
patches to form a smooth continuous surface,
level with the surrounding road.

RM-02.04: Repair of minor ruts and depressions on bituminous roads

This activity includes filling of minor ruts and
depressions on paved roads (10mm < rut depth
< 50mm). Minor ruts and depressions are often
associated with cracks. Water in the ruts and
depressions will penetrate into and weaken the
pavement and accelerate the pavement
deterioration. Minor ruts and depressions are
best repaired with cold mix asphalt produced on
site in the exact quantity needed. If wet weather
is predicted and imminent, no asphalt work must be attempted.
RM-02.05: Repair of ruts and depressions on gravel roads

This activity includes filling of ruts and depressions on gravel roads by replacing or
adding fresh approved material and compacting with appropriate equipment as per
the requirements of this specification and as directed by the Engineer.

wheels ruts preventing water from running

off the carriageway to the side drains

RM-02.06: Local sealing / Surface patching

This activity is done at the final stage of
pavement repairs and repair of ruts and
depressions, but can also be used to seal
closely spaced hairline cracks in the surface.
The seal prevents water from penetrating the
surface and development of more serious
pavement failures.

RM-02.07: Crack sealing on bituminous roads

Sealing of fine cracks < 3 mm wide (frequent
and closely spaced cracks within a limited
area), can be carried out by applying a fog seal
to the damaged surface, consisting of a light
application of low viscosity slow setting
emulsion.
For sealing large cracks > 3 mm wide a slow
setting emulsion can be used for sealing. Wide
and deep cracks can be filled with crusher dust
before filling the top 5mm below the road surface level with emulsion.
RM-02.08: Improvement of surface texture
This activity is done by applying sand or
chippings to areas that exhibit bleeding and
fatting-up. This deficiency can be attained
by the following methods:
Sanding: Apply coarse sand on areas with
mild bleeding or fatting up. Allow traffic to
embed the sand into the binder. The
treatment may have to be repeated.
Spread heated chippings: On areas with
excessive bleeding, spreading heated chippings of nominal size 6 to 10 mm is more
effective due to the amount of binder. The chippings can be heated in a tray over
open fire and rolled into the bitumen for proper embedment.

RM-02.09: Profile corrections / Reshaping of gravel roads

This activity is usually only carried out as a
routine maintenance measure on gravel
and WBM roads and often together with
removing wheel ruts. Rural roads are often
and built in stages leaving a time gap
between the construction of the base
course and the final surfacing works. During
this period, the unsealed surface needs to
be kept free of ruts, potholes as well as
maintaining the camber and longitudinal
profile. Major profile correction works are normally included in the periodic
maintenance programme.

RM-02.10: Maintenance of culverts and causeways structure

This activity consists of repairs to cracks,
parapets, protection works and invert of
culverts and in case of causeways minor
pavement surface repair, replacing guide
posts, repairing flood gauges and protection
works.
RM-02.11: Maintenance of road furniture
This activity consists of cleaning or
repainting of mandatory/regulatory,
cautionary/ warning, informatory sign
boards, re-fixing of tilted Kilometre / 5th KM /
200 M stones along with their repainting.
These minor damages to road furniture if not
attended to promptly would compromise on
road safety.

Conclusion
Roads are among the most important public assets. Road improvements bring
immediate and sometimes dramatic benefits to road users through improved
access to hospitals, schools, and markets; improved comfort, speed, and safety;
and lower vehicle operating costs. For these benefits to be sustained, road
improvements must be followed by a well-planned program of maintenance.
Without regular maintenance, roads can rapidly fall into disrepair, preventing
realization of the longer term impacts of road improvements on development, such
as increased agricultural production and access to services.
Postponing road maintenance results in high direct and indirect costs. If road
defects are repaired promptly, the cost is usually modest. If defects are neglected,
an entire road section may fail completely, requiring full reconstruction at three times
or more the cost, on average, of maintenance costs.

Reference:
Module 7: Routine Maintenance Work Method, Rural Road Maintenance Training
Modules for Engineers and Contractors, Ministry of Rural Development,
Government of India.
Ministry of Rural Development

ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WORK

Government of India

PRADHAN MANTRI
GRAM SADAK
YOJANA