Description

Gravel roads are often a vital link for people in a community to their jobs, schools, and other essential services. If these links fall into poor condition, it can present significant safety risks to the community. Beyond safety, local transportation managers want to achieve a certain level of customer satisfaction, as well as using their limited resources, both financial and personnel-related, as effectively as possible.

Like the rest of an agency’s inventory, gravel roads must be monitored and assessed on a regular basis. This is called a condition assessment. A gravel road is best given an overall rating through observation of individual defects. Documenting poor road conditions helps to assign resources to the roads most in need of work.

One of the most important benefits of rating pavements is that decision makers are given an understanding of the overall road conditions. If a road system is only in fair or poor condition, this type of data display can be highly effective in convincing decision makers that additional improvements are necessary.

Topics covered

• Introduction to Gravel Roads Condition Assessment
• Rating Road Surface Conditions
• Evaluation Factors
• Interactive Case Exercise

Who Should Take This Course

This course is intended for 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.

Accessing the Course

This training is offered via the course management system Canvas. Upon completing your online registration, you will receive an email confirmation. To access the course, please visit Canvas and login with your University of Minnesota internet ID and password. Once you have been enrolled, your course will appear on your Canvas dashboard.

If for any reason you do not have access to the course 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 this course.

Credit

• Students will earn 0.5 Roads Scholar Program Maintenance Certificate credit.
• To the best of our knowledge, this course meets the continuing education requirements for 3.0 PDHs as outlined in Minnesota Statute 326.107. More information concerning continuing education for professionals is available on the Minnesota Board of AELSLAGID website.

Sponsors

This course is sponsored by the Minnesota Local Technical Assistance Program (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 FHWA Center for Local Aid Support in conjunction with a technical advisory panel of experts including local agencies and state DOTs.