Category:822 Roadside Vegetation Management

The Missouri Department of Transportation's (MoDOT) roadside management philosophy will preserve, enhance and diversify the roadsides of Missouri’s transportation system. Our roadside management program helps keep Missouri roadsides safe and attractive. This program establishes and maintains appropriate roadside vegetation to control erosion, restrict growth of undesirable vegetation and to improve the total driving experience for all Missouri motorists. This is effectively accomplished through several methods, including an effective herbicide program, fertilization, mowing, brush-control and litter removal. Wildflower and native grass plantings, landscaping and the use of naturalized vegetation are also part of maintaining and improving safety and roadside appearance. Combining different management practices, such as these listed, form an Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management (IRVM) program.

Design Aspects of Mowing. Mowing should be specified for projects requiring significant mowing during construction. The project core team, with significant input from district Maintenance, should determine which projects will require mowing during construction. The district should include in the proposal the job special provision titled "Mowing", JSP-00-11. This special provision specifies mowing the entire project limits, but if only specific areas are to be mowed, the designer needs to specify those locations in the special provision. Specific locations to be mowed and approximate number of mowings should be coordinated with district Maintenance.