PRE-EMERGENT HERBICIDE TREATMENT
668.01 Description.
This section shall cover the work of applying soil active herbicide(s) on the highway right-of-way in accordance with the plans, specifications, material label instructions, or as directed by the Engineer to control the growth of noxious weeds, brush, vines and grasses.
668.02 Materials.
Materials furnished for use in this vegetation control work shall be produced by reputable, recognized manufacturers and registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Materials shall be licensed for use in the State of Alabama and shall be pre-qualified for use by the Alabama Department of Transportation. An approved drift control agent shall be used in all liquid broadcast applications. Adjuvants, such as, but not limited to, surfactants shall be used when called for by product label instructions of the herbicide designated on the plans or directed by the Engineer. All herbicide and related adjuvants shall be labeled for right-of-way use. Unless specified otherwise by the plans and/or proposal, potable water shall be the carrier for dispersing the herbicide. The use of herbicides other than those dispensed with a water carrier, such as granules, pellets, powders, capsules, etc., shall be placed as indicated on the product label at locations indicated on the plans, or as directed by the Engineer. Herbicides and their application rates that are approved for use on ALDOT rights-of-way may be found in the latest edition of the Addendum to “A Manual for Roadside Vegetation Management – Chapter IV” which is revised by ALDOT’s Maintenance Bureau Agronomists. The type of herbicide required on the project and the required application rate will be shown on the Plans.
668.03 Construction Requirements.
a.Equipment.
1.Equipment for Broadcast Spraying. The Contractor shall utilize equipment in this contract that is in good working condition and is suitable and safe for accurately dispensing herbicide within the right-of-way limits of the highway and for performing the work required under this contract. The contractor shall provide sufficient equipment and accessory items necessary for efficient operation and completion of the herbicide application in the designated time limitations. Broadcast spraying equipment shall be capable of controlling the rate of application using a computerized, calibrated sprayer. The computer module and accessory equipment shall be capable of monitoring ground speed with the ability to compensate the output volume of the spray solution to provide accurate and uniform dispensing of the spray solution to the surface area of the highway right-of-way throughout the operable speed range. The computer shall have a non- volatile memory with the ability to store and report data. Reporting capability shall include quantity of material sprayed, area treated, and hours of operation on a daily basis. Equipment shall be capable of dispensing herbicide by either (1) tank mixed solution, or (2) chemical injection and mixing immediately prior to the distribution nozzles. In the event tank mix equipment is used, means shall be provided for constant agitation (either jet or mechanical) of the mixture during the filling and spraying operation. Each piece of equipment shall be equipped with a hand gun and nozzles capable of spreading the mixed solution uniformly, at the specified rate, over surface areas missed or inaccessible to the broadcast spraying. Herbicide application equipment operated from the roadway or paved shoulder surface shall follow all MUTCD guidelines for a mobile operation. . Smaller motorized ground operated equipment may be used with the approval of the Engineer. This equipment may be used on smaller areas, such as landscaped areas within the limits of the right-of-way. The smaller areas are defined as the areas that are inaccessable to truck mounted and agricultural type sprayers normally used for broadcast applications from the roadway or open areas within the right-of-way. This smaller motorized ground operated equipment shall be equipped with a hand gun and/or nozzles capable of spreading the mixed solution uniformly over the area to be treated. Means shall be provided for constant agitation (either jet or mechanical) of the mixture during the filling and spraying operations.
2.Equipment for Spot Spraying. Spot spraying by means of hand guns, backpack sprayers, portable tanks, etc., shall be capable of applying the herbicide solution at the designated plan rate or as directed by the Engineer. Herbicides placed with this type equipment shall dispense solution which contains the correct herbicide to carrier ratio. The herbicide solution shall be directed and placed on the target area to provide uniform, adequate and proper coverage.
b.Methods of Operation. Prior to beginning work, a conference between representatives of the Department and the Contractor will be arranged by the Department. In this meeting plans, specifications, unusual conditions, methods for marking non-sprayable areas, and other pertinent items regarding the work will be discussed. Certain “No-Spray” areas may occur; these fall within the defined limits of the spraying area as indicated by the plans and specifications. These areas are where various businesses or agencies have ornamental plantings or improved turf within the highway right-of-way and perform their own maintenance, or as directed by the Engineer. The Department will determine all non-sprayable areas. Spraying will not be permitted when, in the opinion of the Engineer, soil, vegetation, and/or weather conditions are such that the right-of-way or the vegetation would be damaged or spraying would be ineffective. The Contractor shall spray as close as practicable to all fixed objects, exercising extreme care not to damage trees, plants, shrubs, signs, delineators or other appurtenances which are part of the facility. Any damage caused by the Contractor’s spraying operations to any tree, plant, shrub, sign, delineator or other appurtenance which is part of the facility shall be pruned, trimmed, repaired or replaced immediately by the Contractor at no cost to the Department. The Engineer will determine whether the damage shall be corrected by pruning, trimming, repair or replacement. The Contractor shall be responsible for any damage to public or private property which may occur as a result of the spraying operation.
c.Spraying Application Requirements. The Contractor shall possess the appropriate license and permit required by the State of Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries for conducting business in the State of Alabama. All personnel directly involved in the application of the herbicide solution, to include operators and project supervisory personnel, shall be experienced in the ground application of pesticides on highway rights-of-way. Operators and project supervisors involved with this project shall possess a commercial applicator permit issued by the State of Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries covering the “Right- of-Way” category. The Contractor will furnish two copies of product labels and material safety data sheets for the products used on the project. One copy of each will be furnished to the Engineer and one copy will be kept with the vehicles applying the herbicide at all times. While spraying, care shall be exercised to prevent damage by spray drift or direct contact of herbicide to areas containing plantings of shrubs and bushes, designated wildflower areas, deciduous or evergreen trees, residential plantings, vegetable or flower gardens, any susceptible farm crops, or other desirable plants. In the event of damage to any desirable plants which includes damage or “brown-out” to low hanging limbs of trees along the right-of-way, the Contractor will correct by either replacement, pruning, trimming or compensation of any damages caused by the misapplication or drift of the herbicide solution immediately following visual recognition, verbal or written notification and/or instructions from the Engineer. No herbicide solution shall be sprayed without a drift control agent. No spraying shall be undertaken when the wind velocity is 10mph {16 km/h} or greater. No spraying shall be undertaken during a rain, when heavy rain is imminent, or when soil is saturated. The Contractor shall take extreme care to ensure that herbicide does not enter any lakes, streams, ponds or wetlands. The speed of any vehicle used to apply the herbicide solution to the highway right-of-way, shall not exceed 11 mph {18 km/h} when operated from the roadway/paved shoulder surface or 5 mph {8 km/h} when operated off the improved portion of the roadway. The pattern of spray shall be such as to provide even, uniform coverage. SECTION 669 POST-EMERGENT HERBICIDE TREATMENT
d.Liability of Contractor. The Contractor shall assume all liability for any damage resulting from the application of the herbicides for this project and shall hold the State of Alabama harmless from any claims arising from this damage. It is illegal to place herbicides in a manner that is not consistent with the requirements shown on the herbicide container labeling.
e.Record of Work. It shall be the Contractor’s responsibility to “scout ahead” for each day’s anticipated work. Department-furnished forms (BM-196) “Herbicide Scouting Report” shall be completed prior to the beginning of each day’s work. A completed and signed copy shall be furnished to the Department’s Engineer for each day’s operation. The Contractor shall account for each day’s work and provide information on location, area covered, weather conditions, personnel, equipment, herbicide used, rates and productivity. This information shall be provided on the Department’s “Herbicide Treatment Report”, which will be provided by the Department. A completed and signed copy of this report shall also be furnished to the Department’s Engineer for each day’s work.
668.04 Method of Measurement.
Item 668-A will be measured in acres {hectares} computed from surface measurements taken parallel to the treated surface. Computations will be to the nearest 0.1 of an acre {0.1 ha}. Item 668-B will be measured by the gallon {L} of dispensed solution with measurements taken from the storage vessel before and following dispersal to determine the actual amount of solution used. Computations will be to the nearest gallon {L}. Item 668-C will be measured by the square yard {square meter} of dispensed solution with surface measurements taken parallel to the treated surface. Computations will be to the nearest 0.1 square yard {0.1 square meter}.
668.05 Basis of Payment.
a.Unit Price Coverage. Payment for all satisfactorily completed work of pre-emergent herbicide application as specified, measured as provided above, will be paid for at the contract bid price which shall be full compensation for furnishing all labor, equipment, herbicides, adjuvants, carrier, fuels, incidentals and liability insurance necessary to complete the work. Partial payments will be made on monthly estimates based on the percentage of the total work performed as estimated by the Engineer.
b.Payment will be made under Item No.: 668-A Broadcast Pre-Emergent Herbicide Treatment ( * ) ( ** ) ( *** ) ( **** ) per acre (ha) 668-B Spot Pre-Emergent Herbicide Treatment ( * ) ( ** ) ( *** ) ( **** ) per gallon {L} 668-C Spot Pre-Emergent Herbicide Treatment ( * ) ( ** ) ( *** ) ( **** ) per square yard {square meter} * Specify Type of Herbicide ** Specify Rate of Herbicide Application *** Specify Carrier Rate of Application **** Specify Type of Carrier SECTION 669 POST-EMERGENT HERBICIDE TREATMENT
669.01 Description
This section shall cover the work of applying contact (foliage active) herbicide(s) on the highway right-of-way in accordance with the plans, specifications, material label instructions or as directed by the Engineer to control the growth of noxious weeds, brush, vines and grasses.
669.02 Materials
Materials furnished for use in this vegetation control work shall be produced by reputable, recognized manufacturers and registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Materials shall be licensed for use in the State of Alabama and pre-qualified for use by the Alabama Department of Transportation. An approved drift control agent shall be used in all liquid broadcast applications. Adjuvants, such as, but not limited to, surfactants shall be used when called for by product label SECTION 669 POST-EMERGENT HERBICIDE TREATMENT instructions of the herbicide designated on the plans or directed by the Engineer. All herbicide and related adjuvants shall be labeled for right-of-way use. Unless specified otherwise by the plans and/or proposal, potable water shall be the carrier for dispersing the herbicide. The use of herbicides other than those dispensed with a water carrier, such as herbicides dispensed with oil shall be placed as indicated on the product label at locations indicated on the plans, or as directed by the Engineer. Herbicides and their application rates that are approved for use on ALDOT rights-of-way may be found in the latest edition of the Addendum to “A Manual for Roadside Vegetation Management – Chapter IV” which is revised by ALDOT’s Maintenance Bureau Agronomists.) . The type of herbicide and the required application rate will be shown on the plans.
669.03 Construction Equipment
a.Equipment
1.Equipment for Broadcast Spraying. The Contractor shall utilize equipment in this contract that is in good working condition and is suitable and safe for accurately dispensing herbicide within the right-of-way limits of the highway and for performing the work required under this contract. The contractor shall provide sufficient equipment and accessory items necessary for efficient operation and completion of the herbicide application in the designated time limitations. Broadcast spraying equipment shall be capable of controlling the rate of application using a computerized, calibrated sprayer. The computer module and accessory equipment shall be capable of monitoring ground speed with the ability to compensate the output volume of the spray solution to provide accurate and uniform dispensing of the spray solution to the surface area of the highway right-of-way throughout the operable speed range. The computer shall have a non- volatile memory with the ability to store and report data. Reporting capability shall include quantity of material sprayed, area treated, and hours of operation on a daily basis. Equipment shall be capable of dispensing herbicide by either (1) tank mixed solution, or (2) chemical injection and mixing immediately prior to the distribution nozzles. In the event tank mix equipment is used, means shall be provided for constant agitation (either jet or mechanical) of the mixture during the filling and spraying operation. Each piece of equipment shall be equipped with a hand gun and nozzles capable of spreading the mixed solution uniformly, at the specified rate, over surface areas missed or inaccessible to the broadcast spraying. Herbicide application equipment operated from the roadway or paved shoulder surface shall follow all MUTCD guidelines for a mobile operation. . Smaller motorized ground operated equipment may be used with the approval of the Engineer. This equipment may be used on smaller areas, such as landscaped areas within the limits of the right-of-way. The smaller areas are defined as the areas that are inaccessible to truck mounted and agricultural type sprayers normally used for broadcast applications from the roadway or open areas within the right-of-way. This smaller motorized ground operated equipment shall be equipped with a hand gun and/or nozzles capable of spreading the mixed solution uniformly over the area to be treated. Means shall be provided for constant agitation (either jet or mechanical) of the mixture during the filling and spraying operations.
2.Equipment for Spot Spraying. Spot spraying by means of hand guns, backpack sprayers, portable tanks, etc., shall be capable of applying the herbicide solution at the designated plan rate or as directed by the Engineer. Herbicides placed with this type equipment shall dispense solution which contains the correct herbicide to carrier ratio. The herbicide solution shall be directed and placed on the target area to provide uniform, adequate and proper coverage in accordance with label instructions and as directed by the Engineer.
b.Methods of Operation Prior to beginning work, a conference between representatives of the Department and the Contractor will be arranged by the Department. In this meeting plans, specifications, unusual conditions, methods for marking non-sprayable areas, and other pertinent items regarding the work will be discussed. Certain “No-Spray” areas may occur; these fall within the defined limits of the spraying area as indicated by the plans and specifications. These areas are where various businesses or agencies have ornamental plantings or improved turf within the highway right-of-way and perform their own maintenance, or as directed by the Engineer. The Department will determine all non-sprayable areas. SECTION 669 POST-EMERGENT HERBICIDE TREATMENT Spraying will not be permitted when, in the opinion of the Engineer, soil, vegetation, and/or weather conditions are such that the right-of-way or the vegetation would be damaged or spraying would be ineffective. The Contractor shall spray as close as practicable to all fixed objects, exercising extreme care not to damage trees, plants, shrubs, signs, delineators or other appurtenances which are part of the facility. Any damage caused by the Contractor’s spraying operations to any tree, plant, shrub, sign, delineator or other appurtenance which is part of the facility shall be pruned, trimmed, repaired or replaced immediately by the Contractor at no cost to the Department. The Engineer will determine whether the damage shall be corrected by pruning, trimming, repair or replacement. The Contractor shall be responsible for any damage to public or private property which may occur as a result of the spraying operation.
c.Spraying Application Requirements. The Contractor shall possess the appropriate license and permit required by the State of Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries for conducting business in the State of Alabama. All personnel directly involved in the application of the herbicide solution, to include operators and project supervisory personnel, shall be experienced in the ground application of pesticides on highway rights-of-way. Operators and project supervisors involved with this project shall possess a commercial applicator permit issued by the State of Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries covering the “Right- of-Way” category. The Contractor will furnish two copies of product labels and material safety data sheets for the products used on the project. One copy of each will be furnished to the Engineer and one copy will be kept with the vehicles applying the herbicide at all times. While spraying, care shall be exercised to prevent damage by spray drift or direct contact of herbicide to areas containing plantings of shrubs and bushes, designated wildflower areas, deciduous or evergreen trees, residential plantings, vegetable or flower gardens, any susceptible farm crops, or other desirable plants. In the event of damage to any desirable plants which includes damage or “brown-out” to low hanging limbs of trees along the right-of-way, the Contractor will correct by either replacement, pruning, trimming or compensation of any damages caused by the misapplication or drift of the herbicide solution immediately following visual recognition, verbal or written notification and/or instructions from the Engineer. No herbicide solution shall be sprayed without a drift control agent. No spraying shall be undertaken when the wind velocity is 10mph {16 km/h} or greater. No spraying shall be undertaken during a rain, when rain is imminent, or when foliage is wet. In the event a rain occurs producing a rainfall of one-tenth of an inch {2.5 mm} within four hours or less after the treatment of an area, the area shall be retreated without additional compensations. No spraying shall be undertaken during extended periods of extremely high temperatures and drought conditions. The Contractor shall take extreme care to ensure that herbicide does not enter any lake, stream, pond or wetlands. The speed of any vehicle used to apply the herbicide solution to the highway right-of-way, shall not exceed 11 mph {18 km/h} when operated from the roadway/paved shoulder surface or 5 mph {8 km/h} when operated off the improved portion of the roadway. The pattern of spray shall be such as to provide even, uniform coverage.
d.Liability of Contractor The Contractor shall assume all liability for any damage resulting from the application of the herbicides for this project and shall hold the State of Alabama harmless from any claims arising from this damage. It is illegal to place herbicides in a manner that is not consistent with the requirements shown on the herbicide container labeling
e.Record of Work It shall be the Contractor’s responsibility to “scout ahead” for each day’s anticipated work. Department-furnished forms (BM-196) “Herbicide Scouting Report” shall be completed prior to the beginning of each day’s work. A completed and signed copy shall be furnished to the Department’s Engineer for each day’s operation. The Contractor shall account for each day’s work and provide information on location, area covered, weather conditions, personnel, equipment, herbicide used, rates and productivity. This information shall be provided on the Department’s “Herbicide Treatment Report”, which will be
Get an email when 668 changes
Alabama revises spec sections through supplementals and new editions. We check this one every week and email you the day it changes. Free, no account.
Source: 2026 Standard Specifications for Highway Construction, 2026 Edition. Pages 580–584 of 826. View official source ↗