ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses soil properties measured under and along roadways, with an emphasis on the roadside landscape. Right-of-way (ROW) soils are disturbed during construction, rehabilitation, reconstruction, and roadway use. Roadway construction and design techniques often focus on reducing water near the roadway and on proper soil compaction of pavement foundation materials. The use of the highway, the existing soil composition and construction activities and materials all contribute to the heterogeneity of roadside soils. Soil disturbance within the ROW begins when the site is prepared for construction by moving soil and materials and by performing excavation. Construction performance is attributed to the selection of coarse, well-graded, angular, aggregate mixtures for the base and subbase courses over finer soil materials. Roadsides are often revegetated after construction to provide stability and prevent soil erosion. Roadside vegetation often consists of low-growing, fine-rooted herbaceous materials.
