2.2 Road Layout Professional Responsibilities & Considerations

Road layout includes pre-field and field reconnaissance works that address safety and resource issues directly or lead to suitable applications at the survey, design and construction stages. Practices include:

  • review and confirmation of any FSP or other planning outcomes;
  • field determination of any signs of landslide prone terrain;
  • professional terrain and fan stability assessments;
  • riparian classification of streams near the road;
  • applying qualified personnel to the project;
  • selecting the optimum route;
  • preparing a Reconnaissance Report that addresses:
    • road survey instructions;
    • seepage;
    • locations of springs and licensed waterworks in community watersheds;
    • resource features;
    • wildlife habitat features; and
    • road alignment controls where no geometric road design will take place;
  • flagging and traversing the proposed road centre-line; and
  • field checks of the proposed road location by professionals and FLNR staff, as necessary due to project complexity or specific issues.

The CM is responsible for considering the composition and interaction of all the road layout components, as well as their relationships and impact on not only the users, but also on the road components and other resources. A key concept is continuity of professional oversight and output reviews. The CM is charged with retaining a close familiarity with the progress of the project, and with coordinating the various specialist inputs into the road layout and, as such, carries overall professional responsibility for the delivery of the layout.  

The CM may need to update a road layout based on:

  • the results of consultations that have taken place after the road layout commenced; and
  • the field reconnaissance and recommendations made by other members, specialists or road personnel.

Based on the foregoing, the CM must sign off (and may seal) the Road Project Assurance Statement (PDF), approving the location of the road. For more information, see Chapter 8: Professional Responsibilities & Considerations.