These FHWA online courses are designed for a variety of professionals working within local agencies and tribal governments, focused on those who are responsible for gravel-surfaced roads.
Course Descriptions and Registration
You can take any of the three courses or all of them, in whichever order you prefer. All courses are free.
Expand the sections below to see detailed information and register for each course.
Gravel Road Construction and Maintenance
Course Description
Gravel roads are not intended to sustain their original construction attributes over an extended amount of time and require routine upkeep. Using the recently revised Gravel Roads Construction and Maintenance Guide, this training addresses the basics of gravel road design, construction, and maintenance.
Who Should Take This Course
Local agency and tribal transportation officials, managers, and motor grader operators who are responsible for designing and maintaining gravel-surfaced roads.
Credit
1.0 Roads Scholar Program Maintenance Certificate credit and 6.0 PDHs.
Condition Assessment of Gravel Roads
Course Description
Gravel roads must be monitored and assessed on a regular basis for safety, driver satisfaction, and good stewardship of limited transportation resources. This course will teach you how to perform a condition assessment on gravel roads using a rating system.
Who Should Take This Course
Professionals in a variety of positions within local agencies and tribal governments, with an emphasis on those who are responsible for constructing and maintaining gravel-surfaced roads and determining their condition and maintenance requirements.
Credit
0.5 Roads Scholar Program Maintenance Certificate credit and 3.0 PDHs.
Strategies for Effective Management of Gravel Roads
Course Description
Knowing how your gravel roads are performing—as well which types of maintenance, preservation, and rehabilitation options maximize their value—is critical. This course focuses on how to effectively manage your gravel roadways, with an emphasis on condition evaluation, data collection, data analysis, and decision-making activities.
Who Should Take This Course
Professionals in a variety of positions within local agencies and tribal governments, in particular those in decision-making roles and those providing input and information in support of decision makers.
Credit
0.5 Roads Scholar Program Maintenance Certificate credit and 3.0 PDHs.
Accessing the Courses
This training is offered via the course management system Canvas. Upon completing your online registration for each course, you will receive an email confirmation. To access the courses, please visit Canvas and log in with your University of Minnesota internet ID and password. Once you have been enrolled, the courses will appear on your Canvas dashboard.
If for any reason you do not have access to the courses after enrolling, please contact Katherine Stanley at sell0146@umn.edu for assistance.
Technical Requirements
Because it's built using web standards, Canvas runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, or any other device with a modern web browser. Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Internet Explorer work best for these courses.
Credit
- To earn the Roads Scholar Program Maintenance Certificate credit, students are required to send a copy of the course completion certificate to mnltap@umn.edu.
- For more information on PDHs and the continuing education requirements for professionals as outlined in Minnesota Statute 326.107, see the Minnesota Board of AELSLAGID website.
Sponsors
These courses are sponsored by Minnesota LTAP at the University of Minnesota. Minnesota LTAP is sponsored by the Minnesota Local Road Research Board (LRRB) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).
Course curriculum was developed and compiled by the FHWA Center for Local Aid Support in conjunction with a technical advisory panel of experts including representatives from local agencies and state DOTs.