Wisconsin WisDOT Standard Specifications (within FDM) — Section 201

Effective with the December 2018 Letting 71 2019 Standard Speci fications Section 201 Clearing and Grubbing

201.1Description

(1)This section describes cutti ng and disposing of trees, brush, windfalls, logs, and other vegetation

occurring within the clearing lim its; and removing and disposin g of roots, stumps, stubs, logs, and other timber occurring within the grubbing limits. 201.2 (Vacant)

201.3Construction

(1)Clear and grub areas within t he clearing and grubbing limits d efined as follows:

1.Between lines 5 feet outside the grading limits of roadway cuts and fills, including intercepting

embankments, channels, ditches, borrow pits, and marsh or waste disposal areas.

2.Other parts of the right-of-w ay the plans or special provisions designate.

3.Designated clear zone and clear vision areas.

4.With the engineer's approval, areas with vegetation that in terferes with excavati on, embankment, marsh,

or waste disposal.

5.The contractor does not have to grub the following:

- Areas designated for occupation by earth embankments 6 feet o r more in height. - Areas used for marsh excavation disposal for which the State has obtained easements.

(2)Preserve vegetation within the clearing limits as the plans sh ow or the engineer directs. Cut off and

dispose of other trees, brush, shrubs, or other vegetation occu rring within the clearing limits. Within the grubbing limits, remove debris no t suitable for the roadway fou ndation, stumps and associated roots, logs, timber, brush, and matted roots to the following minimum depths:

1.In cut areas, one foo t below final subgrade.

2.In embankment areas, one foot below the existing grade.

(3)Do not remove trees and shrubs located beyond the clearing lim its unless the engineer specifically

authorizes their removal. If clearing where grubbing is not req uired, cut shrubs and brush to within 3 inches of the ground surface. Cut trees as nearly flush with th e ground surface as practicable with tools ordinarily used for these operations.

(4)Prevent the spread of oak wilt by treating cut surfaces and ab rasions sustained between April 1 and

September 30 by healthy oak trees and saplings with a thorough application of tree paint immediately upon discovering a wound. Betw een these dates, also paint the c ut surfaces of the stumps of healthy oak trees and saplings immediatel y after cutting, whether remai ning in place or grubbed.

(5)If feasible, fell trees toward the center of the area being cl eared. If this is not possible due to danger to

traffic or injury to other trees , structures, or property, cut them into sections from the top down.

(6)Do not injure or damage trees and shrubs left in place on the right-of-way. Symmetrically trim lower

limbs or branches of trees left i n place and ov erhanging the roadbed to at least 20 feet above the finished grade. Trim using generally accepted horticultural pra ctices.

(7)Unless the contract specifies o therwise, the contractor owns t imber salvaged from the required

clearing of right-of-way acquired by the highway authority in f ee simple title, or from clearing of trees acquired by and for the public i n the acquisition of easement of the right-of-way. Set aside logs and timber greater than 4 inches in diameter to the extent feasible for commercial or f uel use. Do not burn or bury this material on the ri ght-of-way or lands adjacent to the right-of-way wit hout first making it available for commercial or fuel use. If it is not possible to dispose of this material for commercial or fuel use, dispose of the salvaged lo gs as specified for waste l ogs in 201.3(10) .

(8)Private owners holding underlying title to lands acquired or r eserved for highway purposes by

easement or by use have a prio r right to all timber from trees standing or lying, except timber required for construction of the work, and except timber from trees acquired by and for the public in the acquisition of the right-of-way . Consult with the private owners about disposing of trees cut on their land. Remove from the right-of -way and dispose of trees, or portions of trees, claimed by the owners. Ensure that timber disposal sites are neatly constructed.

(9)Dispose of stumps, roots, brush, waste logs and limbs, timber tops, and debris resulting from clearing

and grubbing or occurring within the clearing and grubbing limits by burning, chipping, burying, or removing from the right-of-way.

(10)For disposal by open burning, burn within the clearing limits when and in a way that does not harm

trees or shrubs left in place, c reate a nuisance, pose a hazard to traffic, or damage public or private property. Take care to avoid bur ning poison oak, poison ivy, po ison sumac or other materials posing a health hazard when burned. Obtain burning permits required under local and state fire protection

Effective with the December 2018 Letting 72 2019 Standard Speci fications regulations and provide copies to the engineer before burning. Comply with WDNR rule NR 429 regulating open burning that pr ohibits open burning in the Sout heast Wisconsin Intr astate Air Quality Control Region (Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Walworth, Washington, and Waukesha counties). Do not use oily substa nces or other materials prohib ited under NR 429 to start or maintain fires. http://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov /code/admin_code/nr/400/429.pdf

(11)If open burning is not allowed and the engineer approves, the contractor may bury material in

engineer-approved locations on the right-of-way outside the con struction limits. Min imize the bulk of the material and cover it with at least one foot of earth. If the engineer approves, the contractor may dispose of the debris from open burning in this same manner.

(12)For disposal by mechanical chipping, recover all material as i t leaves the chipping machine. Stockpile

and use this material as specified for mulch under 627, dispose of it off the right-of-way, or bury it as specified in 201.3(11) .

(13)Dispose of material off the right -of-way according to applicable solid waste disposal regulations.

Obtain written permits for this disposal from the owner of the property where placing the material, unless disposing of this material at a licensed waste disposal operation. Provide copies of permits to the engineer before disposal begins.

(14)Chip, burn, or bury under not less than one foot of earth elm wood consisting of trees, logs, stumps,

stubs, branches, or windfalls w ith adhering bark, and elm bark and debris within clearing and grubbing limits or resulting from clearing and grubbing operations.

(15)Debark elm logs salvaged, and elm wood or stumps not disposed of by chipping, burning, or burying;

and chip, burn, or bury the bark. For clearing and grubbing operations performed between April 1 and September 30, perform final dispo sal of elm wood, bark, or debr is within 30 days. For clearing and grubbing operations performed bet ween October 1 and March 31, p erform final disposal of elm wood, bark, or debris before the succeeding May 1.

(16)Dispose of clearing and grubbing debris before proceeding with grading operations. If the contractor

intends to burn debris but canno t secure burning permits on schedule, do not delay removing clearing debris from areas affected by other operations. While waiting t o secure burning permits, pile clearing and grubbing debris beyond the limits affected by other work. D o not leave elm debris beyond the limits specified in 201.3(15) .

201.4Measurement

201.4.1 General

(1)The department will measure Clearing and Grubbing separately, either by the station, inch of diameter,

square yard, or acre as the contract indicates.

(2)The department will measure Clearing and Grubbing required for the excavation of channels and

ditches, occurring outside the limits of the roadway clearing and grubbing. If measured by the station, the department will measure along the center line of these channels and ditches.

(3)The department will measure Clea ring performed on marsh disposal or waste disposal areas of the

right-of-way and on easements fu rnished by the State. If measured by the station, the department will measure along the roadway centerline.

(4)The department will not measure incidental clearing and grubbi ng operations required to perform the

work as follows:

1.Clearing areas of light brush, shrubs, and other vegetation that the contractor can cu t with a brush scythe

or mowing machine.

2.Clearing areas cont aining logs, tree roots, roots of brush and shrubs, and other veget ation having a woody

structure that the contractor can remove with a rooter.

3.Clearing small trees of less than the minimum number and size specified for measurement.

4.Trimming overhanging limbs and branches to provide required clearance.

5.Clearing and grubbing borrow pits.

201.4.2 By the Station

(1)The department will measure Clearing and Grubbing by the full 100-foot station acceptably completed,

measured along the roadway center line or reference line with ea ch full 100-foot station starting and ending at a +00 station. If 2 or more roadways occur, the depar tment will measure along the centerline or reference line of each roadw ay. For divided highways, the de partment will extend measurement units for each roadway, in width , from 5 feet outside the grading limit of that roadway to a line mid-way between the reference lines or centerlines for each roadway.

Effective with the December 2018 Letting 73 2019 Standard Speci fications (2) The department will only include st ations with a total of 12 i nches or more of diameter determined as specified under 201.4.5 . The department will include each station conforming to this c riterion as a full station. 201.4.3 By the Square Yard

(1)The department will measure Clearing and Grubbing by the squar e yard acceptably completed within

the designated limits. The department will calculate the horizontal area bounded by the line of trunks cut or grubbed. The department w ill not measure outside the rig ht-of-way limits or acquired easements. The department will incl ude only areas containing tr ees or stumps with a 3-inch or greater diameter. The department will determine diameters as specified under 201.4.5. 201.4.4 By the Acre

(1)The department will measure Clea ring and Grubbing by the acre acceptably completed within the

designated limits. The departmen t will calculate the horizontal area bounded by the line of trunks cut or grubbed. The department will not measure outside the right-of-way limits or acquired easements. The department will measure separate areas or isolated stands of less than 1/5 acre as 1/5 acre. The department will include only areas containing trees or stumps w ith a 3-inch or greater diameter. The department will determine diameters as specified under 201.4.5 . 201.4.5 By the Inch of Diameter

(1)The department will measure Clea ring and Grubbing by the inch of diameter acceptably completed.

The department will determine tree diameter by measuring the ci rcumference approximately 4 1/2 feet above the existing ground level, but above the ground swell, an d dividing by 3. The department will determine stump diameter, for stumps not resulting from the con tractor's clearing operations, by computing the average diameter of the stump top. The department will include only those in-place trees or stumps with a 3-inch o r greater diameter. The department will round circumference measurements and diameters to the nearest inch.

201.5Payment

(1)The department will pay for measured quantities at the contrac t unit price under the following bid

items: ITEM NUMBER DESCRIPTION UNIT

201.0105 Clearing STA

10 Clearing SY

15 Clearing ACRE

20 Clearing ID

201.0205 Grubbing STA

10 Grubbing SY

15 Grubbing ACRE

20 Grubbing ID

(2)Payment for Clearing and Grubbing is full compensation for the following:

- Clearing and grubbing required under this section and performed within the clearing and grubbing limits, as defined in 201.3(1) . - Handling, hauling, p iling, burning, bur ying, trimming, chippi ng, wound treatment, rehan dling, and disposing of waste and debris. - Excavations made to bury clearing and grubbing material, backfilling these excavati ons, and disposing of excess excavated material.

(3)The department will pay for clearing and grubbing ordered and performed beyond the clearing and

grubbing limits, as defined in 201.3(1) , at the contract unit price per square yard, acre, or inch of diameter. If the contract does not contain Clearing and Grubbin g bid items using those units, the department will pay for this additi onal clearing and grubbing a s extra work.

(4)The incidental clearing and grubbing described in 201.4.1(4) is incidental to the Excavation bid items

of 205 or to other con tract bid items.

Effective with the December 2018 Letting 74 2019 Standard Speci fications Section 202 Roadside Clearing

202.1Description

(1)This section describes cutting and disposing of undesirable tr ees, brush, shrubs, and vegetation;

removing and disposing of windfalls, logs, uprooted stumps, and rubbish; and trimming of selected trees and saplings to be saved; all within the right-of-way lim its but outside the clearing limits defined in 201.3 . 202.2 (Vacant)

202.3Construction

(1)Perform roadside clearing on sections of the project the plans designate and to the limits the plans or

special provisions indicate. If no limits are indicated, perfor m roadside clearing on areas of the right-of- way outside the clearing limits.

(2)Preserve desirable and struct urally sound trees, saplings, or shrubs suitable for shade or road

beautification purposes unless t he engineer directs otherwise. Do not injure or damage trees and saplings designated for preservation. Remove the dead material and lower branches of preserved trees as directed, to promote uniformity and proper development of shape and appearance. Trim using generally accepted hortic ultural practices.

(3)Cut undesirable trees, brush, shrubs, existing stumps, and veg etation as nearly flush with the ground

surface as reasonably possible wit h tools ordinarily used for t hese operations. Avoid harming trees and saplings designated for preservation when felling undesirable trees. If unable to fell trees due to danger to traffic or injury to ot her trees, structures, or prop erty, then cut them into sections from the top down.

(4)Treat cut surfaces, abrasions, and damaged areas of healthy oa k trees and saplings, and cut surfaces

of stumps of these trees as spe cified for preventing oak wilt u nder 201.3(4) .

(5)Remove windfalls, logs, uprooted stumps, and rubbish from the surface of the ground within areas of

the right-of-way included under r oadside clearing operations.

(6)Dispose of timber, stumps, brush , waste logs and limbs, tops, and debris resulting from roadside

clearing as specified in 201.3 .

202.4Measurement

202.4.1 By the Station

(1)The department will measure the Roadside Clearing by the full 100-foot station acceptably completed,

(2)The department will include only st ations where roadside clearing is designated and performed. The

department will include each stati on conforming to these criteria as a full station. 202.4.2 By the Square Yard

(1)The department will measure Roadside Clearing by the square ya rd acceptably completed within the

designated limits as calculated from horizontal measurements. The department will not measure outside the right-of-way limi ts or acquired easements. 202.4.3 By the Acre

(1)The department will measure Roadside Clearing by the acre acce ptably completed within the

designated limits as calculated from horizontal measurements. The department will not measure outside the right-of-way limits o r acquired easements. The department will measure separate areas or isolated stands of less th an 1/5 acre as 1/5 acre.

202.5Payment

(1)The department will pay for measured quantities at the contrac t unit price under the following bid

items: ITEM NUMBER DESCRIPTION UNIT

202.0105 Roadside Clearing STA

10 Roadside Clearing SY

15 Roadside Clearing ACRE

(2)Payment for the Road side Clearing bid items is full compensati on for cutting, clearing, wound

treatment, and disposal of waste vegetation.

Source: Wisconsin Standard Specifications for Highway and Structure Construction, 2019 Edition. Pages 80–82 of 601.

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202 Roadside Clearing