ABSTRACT
Highway maintenance ensures that roads are operable under desired physical conditions and achieve their original design expectations – including their design life expectancies. Within a highway’s right of way, aside from all traveled lanes, paved shoulders, and sidewalks, the remainder is covered by vegetation established through sodding, seeding, and natural growth. Proper vegetation management is critical for roadway infrastructure health, traveler experience, and aesthetics. As grasses, weeds, and other plants grow tall, they may block a driver’s line of sight, creating a safety hazard. Tall vegetations may also hide animals such as deer from drivers. Collisions between vehicles and deer or other large animals pose life-threating risks to drivers and vehicle occupants. Special mowing is mowing under a set of specific instructions and conditions, such as only after seeds have matured or hatching season is over. Mowing poses safety challenges to both mowing personnel and the traveling public through two distinct means.
