Public Works: Dirt Road Maintenance  There are
approximately 247 miles of County owned or maintained dirt roads in Clay County.
More than 90% of these roads consist of a mixture of sand and clay which make-up
the road base. The condition of these roads is highly dependent on the volume
and type of traffic, drainage systems and weather conditions. Erosion of unpaved
roads and their drainage systems is the single most significant factor affecting
maintenance requirements.
Erosion of unpaved roadways occurs when soil particles are loosened and carried
away from the roadway base and into the roadway drainage system. Soil particles
that settle out in the drainage system reduce the carrying capacity of the ditch
which in turn causes roadway flooding and thus more roadway erosion.
Grading dirt roads that have little moisture content in the soil is futile and
is often the cause of road surface degradation such as "washboarding" and other
problems associated with the loss of soil. Frequent, excessive and unnecessary
disturbances by continued grading increases erosion, which accounts for a large
percentage of dirt road maintenance costs and the deposit of sediments in our
water bodies. A properly timed and selective surface maintenance, which includes
drainage systems, will minimize erosion problems and lengthen the life of the
road surface.
How often are dirt roads normally graded?
Streets and Drainage
Division currently completes a grading cycle in approximately 3 weeks. Of
course, there are a lot of variables involved in staying on that schedule.
Weather, illnesses, equipment failure, holidays, and road conditions all play a
part in altering our cycle, but barring these unforeseen circumstances, your
road should be graded about every 3 weeks.
To report a severe problem, please submit a request using this link:
Maintenance
Request Form
Questions regarding dirt road maintenance may be directed to the Streets and
Drainage Division at 269-6335 or email
public.works@co.clay.fl.us.
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