Site conditions: road right of ways

Understanding site conditions is critical when Screening LID Options. Gaining comprehensive knowledge of the proposed site requires a desktop review of relevant background information followed by field reconnaissance to verify the review and identify relevant site conditions not included in background information.

Desktop Analysis of Background Documents

Analyzing streetview shots is a helpful desktop exercise

Reviewing background information will help provide preliminary understanding of side conditions, scope technical investigations for the site and determine project targets. It’s best to collect and review this information prior to field reconnaissance so that it is a targeted and efficient use of time.

Relevant background information includes but is not limited to:

• Municipal road sections and profiles
• Construction drawings from adjacent properties
• Servicing drawings (hydro, phone, gas, cable, and other utilities)
• Grading plans
• Stormwater management and drainage reports
• Reports of flooding from adjacent households
• Sump-pump and foundation drain connection information
• Local stormwater management criteria
• Hydrologic models
• Hydraulic models
• Orthophotography and aerial photos
• Surveys
• Local digital elevation model (DEM)
• Surficial soils and geology data
• Geotechnical investigations and reports
• Digital base mapping (GIS) showing roads, buildings, property fabric, watercourses, storm and sanitary sewer infrastructure, and watermains
• Relevant local policies, by-laws and standards
• Standard templates for design drawings and tender document
• Watershed or subwatershed studies

Field Reconnaissance of Site Conditions

Field reconnaissance to verify desktop analysis is critical

The next step is to assess site conditions in order to confirm your assessment, to determine the technical feasibility of implementing LID practices within the municipal right-of-way (ROW), to scope existing drainage features and general ROW characteristics, and to identify and confirm any existing constraints. Pay attention to the function of adjoining land uses and activities occurring in and around the site.

Site specific constraints, considerations, and conditions that can be identified during a field visit include:

• Road type
  • Local residential road
  • Residential collector road
  • Local industrial road
  • Industrial collector road
  • Minor arterial road
  • High density commercial road

Also determine what type of road reconstruction is feasible:

Car parked within the drainage ditch. Will this continue after the LID road retrofit?

Roadway resurfacing	Grinding of the base and top asphaltic compound to some nominal depth from the existing road surface and allowing for approximately 15-30% spot base repair where required while maintaining the original vertical design of the road. May also include: Repair or replacement of concrete curb and installation of sub-drains Repair of concrete sidewalks Adjustment and/or replacement of driveway aprons and sod
Road Reconstruction	Complete removal and replacement of the major ROW elements including the road base, asphalt surface, concrete curb and sidewalks. Complete replacement can include reconstruction or replacement of the sub-surface (hydro, gas, water main, sanitary and stormwater infrastructure). Another type of road reconstruction converts rural cross-section roadway into an urban cross section. This typically includes the installation of storm sewers, complete base and asphalt replacement, concrete curb placement, placement of sub-drains under curbs and catch basin placement.
Road improvement for rural to urban cross section	As areas urbanize or infrastructure is upgraded, rural cross section streets may be converted to an urban cross-section with curbs, gutters and storm sewers. These upgrades are one of the most common and provide economically feasible opportunities for LID incorporation.
Roadway Reduction	The effective width or number of travel lanes contained in a crosssection is reduced in order to achieve system improvements. Roadway reductions can be used for traffic calming purposes, transit projects, alternative transportation strategies (e.g. introducing bicycle lanes), and pedestrian crossings. Through the process of roadway reduction, areas of the ROW that were used for vehicular travel are converted to sidewalks, landscaped boulevards and bicycle lanes.

Other conditions to note:

• Local landscaping features and the landscape aesthetic of the surrounding site area
• Overhead or underground utilities
• Utility lines not marked in the drawings
• Traffic patterns or safety concerns. How could the LID practice assist in traffic calming?
• Parking volume and location
• Encroachment issues. Are there structures or features, such as fences, present on the ROW?
• Paved boulevard areas
• Irregular surface drainage patterns, ponding, or lack of conveyance
• Adjoining land use. Are any activities present that could impact ROW retrofit design, construction, or maintenance (i.e. excess garbage)?
• Use of the site. Do residents use the ROW site to access other amenities, such as a transit shelter? Do they use it for parking?
• Current maintenance practices within the ROW
• Are mature trees present? Could they impact construction, operations, and maintenance of the LID feature?
• Project support –property owners might choose to get involved in LID, but renters might not be inclined

Once you have collected the necessary site condition information, return to Screening LID Options

Low Impact Development. A stormwater management strategy that seeks to mitigate the impacts of increased urban runoff and stormwater pollution by managing it as close to its source as possible. It comprises a set of site design approaches and small scale stormwater management practices that promote the use of natural systems for infiltration and evapotranspiration, and rainwater harvesting.

A road on which traffic movement and access to property have similar importance.

A road primarily for through traffic.

A long narrow trench or furrow dug in the ground, as for irrigation, drainage, or a boundary line.

A mixture of mineral aggregates bound with bituminous materials, used in the construction and maintenance of paved surfaces.

Ground depression acting as a flow control and water treatment structure, that is normally dry.

Movement of water from one location to another.