Gravel Road Maintenance and Design
This one-day workshop helps supervisory personnel and operators better understand the materials, techniques, and equipment needed for maintaining gravel roads, as well as review new techniques and ideas. Slides, videos, and group discussions will help you learn from real-world examples and benefit from the exchange of information with instructors and other attendees.
Dates and Locations
This workshop is scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (registration begins at 8:00 a.m.) at the specified location on each of the dates listed below.
- March 23, 2023—Crow Wing County Land Services Building, 322 Laurel St., Brainerd, MN 56401
- March 30, 2023—Willmar Fire Department, 515 2nd St. SW, Willmar, MN 56201
- April 5, 2023—Mankato MnDOT, 2151 Bassett Drive, Mankato, MN 56001
Registration
- Register
- Cost: $75
- Please note: There is no registration fee for Minnesota public works personnel who are members of a tribal nation or who work for a tribal nation. Contact Katherine Stanley at sell0146@umn.edu or 612-626-1023 to register.
- Registration contact: Samantha Redmond at redmo062@umn.edu
Please let us know how we can ensure that this workshop is inclusive to you. What accommodations or access needs can we help facilitate? Contact redmo062@umn.edu when you register to help us provide you with the best access.
Topics Covered
- The latest in gravel road maintenance techniques
- How to reduce washboarding
- How to choose good sources of gravel
- How to shape a gravel road, including a proper crown and shoulder
- Gravel road and equipment safety
- Gravel gradation
- How to control dust
- How to select the right equipment and cutting edges
- Fabric stabilization of weak road-base conditions
- How to develop a road improvement program
- Gravel road stabilization with Otta Seal or calcium chloride
- Review of gravel road maintenance equipment
- Motor grader safety and operation overview
Who Should Attend
Supervisors, operators, and township officials responsible for maintaining gravel roads and anyone interested in gravel road maintenance.
Course Instructor
Jed Rhubee is the public works superintendent for the Cottonwood County Highway Department, where he’s responsible for maintaining a 40-mile route of gravel roads. He joined the county in 2007 after earning a diploma in heavy equipment operations and maintenance from Northwest Iowa Community College.
Credit
- 1.0 Roads Scholar Program Maintenance Certificate credit.
- To the best of our knowledge, this course/activity meets the continuing education requirements for 6.0 PDHs as outlined in Minnesota Statute 326.107. More information concerning continuing education for professionals is online.
Sponsors
This workshop is presented by the Minnesota Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) at the Center for Transportation Studies, University of Minnesota. Minnesota LTAP is sponsored by the Minnesota Local Road Research Board (LRRB) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). This course is subsidized through funding from LRRB and FHWA.