Roadside Right-of-Way Maintenance Strategies

The Indiana Department of Transportation’s (INDOT) roadside management program is tasked with multiple items across the state’s 39,000 lane miles. Roadside maintenance is an essential task that keeps INDOT’s rights-of-way (ROWs) safe and functional for drivers. Most roadside vegetation maintenance work for INDOT is outsourced, and INDOT’s in-house staff perform any follow-up vegetation maintenance as needed. INDOT needs to focus on cost-efficient solutions due to budgetary constraints from increased labor, equipment, and contractor costs and no budgetary increases. INDOT contracted Davey Resource Group, Inc. (DRG) to provide recommendations for updates to INDOT’s roadside ROW vegetation maintenance strategies. DRG completed a literature review, interviewed regional DOTs, and performed an analysis of the identified gaps within INDOT’s vegetation maintenance program. DRG then provided implementation recommendations. The benefits and timeline of each of these implementation items were provided, including costs and return on investment (ROI) estimates when possible. Issues identified included a reactive vegetation management approach, staff that lack familiarity with INDOT’s vegetation maintenance operations standards, a lack of access to appropriate equipment/technology, a limited number of contractors bidding on vegetation work, and contractors taking on more work than they have capacity for. DRG recommends the development of specialized vegetation crews in each district. Purchase of specialized equipment and mapping technology is recommended for those crews, along with improvements to prequalification requirements, design standards, and engineering division communication to make vegetation maintenance easier and safer for maintenance staff. Alternative recommendations are provided where available.