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Appendix 3. Costs Related To Road Construction/Improvement
Appendix 3. Costs Related To Road Construction/Improvement
Excavation Costs 4
Brush Cutting 5
Subgrade Treatments 6
Equipment/Operator Rates 7, 8
The cost appraisal policy in this section shall be concerned only with road construction items.
The appraisals shall be made as fairly and impartially as possible with due consideration for
prevailing rates for equipment and labor; size and quantity of equipment available; terrain and
material types in which equipment will be working.
Unless otherwise stated, all costs and factors include 17% for profit, risk, overhead, and bonding;
and 18% for the labor surcharge.
Direct cost items are provided which are up to date as nearly as practicable. Because of outdating
and possible wide variation of conditions from the average, basic rates of time and quantity are
supplied which will enable said cost items to be updated or modified with a minimum of effort.
Instructions on the use of tables and cost rate items are included with said tables and rates to
facilitate their use.
Where the appraiser needs to know the cost of ownership of equipment or structures he/she should
refer to textbooks on computation of Average Annual Investment.
No attempt has been made at this time to break down certain contract items, such as fencing, into
detailed unit costs.
For the purposes of estimating costs, the appraiser must assume an operation of average efficiency
undertaken by a prudent contractor who operates in the following manner:
3. Plans to have the road construction equipment and supplies necessary for forest road
construction which are of correct size to do the job efficiently, and are maintained properly to
minimize time lost for repair.
4. Proceeds with various phases of road construction in a safe and workmanlike manner.
Load and Haul to the designated waste area shall be appraised on an individual basis using time and
equipment estimates.
X =$ /acre
(Base cost) (Adjustment factor) Cost per acre.
For explanation of Adjustment factor see "Clear And Grub" sectionand photos series.
Cover types
Light cover ( .8)
Medium cover (1)
Heavy cover (1.3)
(see photo series for guidance)
The clearing and grubbing costs shown above represent the total per acre cost for disposal of
nonmerchantable material and stumps.
Make sure that you use the correct cost for the type of method that is actually being required in the
field. For example sidecast of Clear and Grub debris is one of the most common methods in use on
State Forests and should not be confused with Scattering which is sometimes specified but is not
actually being done. The appraiser should be familiar with the definitions and differences of these
methods.
1.Basic Excavation Costs: (basic cost includes haul to 200') (Slopes over 50% may need add on cost
for end hauling)
BRUSH CUTTING
Costs for brush cutters should be based on current estimates from contractors in your local area.
Typical mechanical brush cutters have the following characteristics:
b. Production rates - average 3/4 to 1 mile per day brushing both sides of road.
d. A tractor mounted flail mower setup should run between $45 to $65 per hour for rough
estimating.
BRUSH CHIPPERS
Brush Mower 8' 89.26 35.90
COMPACTION EQUIPMENT
Vibratory Roller 36.33 8.60 34.94
Grid Roller 9.00 1.70
Sheeps Foot 6.12 2.00
Hand Held Tamper 1.68 .22 34.94
GRADERS
12-G 26.26 8.32 35.90
14-G 37.35 11.75 35.90
16-G 53.93 17.0 35.90
SCRAPERS
11 CY (613B) 40.74 10.67 35.60
14 - 20 CY (TS14B) 76.21 21.35 35.60
TRACTORS
D4 19.71 4.72 35.60
D6 35.14 8.35 35.60
D7 WINCH 59.78 15.59 35.60
D8 WINCH 91.44 25.73 35.60
D8 RIPPER 94.71 26.71 35.60
TRUCKS
Distributor Truck 45.43 33.21
Dump: 10 CY 15.32 3.59 33.21
: 12 CY 24.46 5.23 33.21
: 20 CY (Belly) 40.11 9.48 33.51
Water: 2000 Gal. 14.77 3.48 33.29
: 3000 Gal. 23.95 5.14 33.29
Lowboy 38.33 8.92 33.29
1/2 Ton P.U. 5.80 .92 33.07
3/4 Ton P.U. (Crew Cab) 6.70 1.19 33.07
1 Ton Stake 14.89 2.04 33.07
MISCELLANEOUS
CHAIN SAW: BRUSH CUTTERS 3.14 27.65
: FALL AND BUCK 3.14 28.07
WATER PUMPS
4" - 600 GPM 2.69 .22 34.64
- 1100 GPM 13.12 1.00 34.64
Welder, 200 AMP 8.50 .49 35.60
The following costs were derived from the USFS Cost Estimating Guide. For large projects where
a full load of culverts (truck and trailer) will be ordered these costs may be reduced 20%. For small
projects where only a few culverts will be needed these costs may be increased by 20%.
The cost shown is an average cost and can be used for culvert estimating without regard for culvert
order size and should be within a reasonable range of the true cost.
Costs include bands and delivery Coated corrugations
2-2/3" X 1/2 " Material Material+ Material Material+
Thickness Diameter(in) Price installation Price installation
18 7.59 13.48 8.85 14.74
21 8.86 14.75 10.33 16.22
24 10.12 16.01 11.80 17.69
16 Gage 30 12.65 19.13 14.75 21.23
36 15.18 26.90 17.70 29.42
42 17.71 31.61 20.65 34.55
48 20.25 37.50 23.61 40.86
corrugations
2-2/3" X 1/2" Material Material+ Material Material+
Thickness Diameter(in) Price installation Price installation
18 9.45 15.34 10.71 16.63
21 11.02 16.91 12.49 18.38
24 12.60 18.49 14.28 20.17
14 Gage 30 15.75 22.23 17.85 24.33
36 18.90 30.62 21.42 33.14
42 22.05 35.95 24.99 38.89
48 25.20 42.45 28.56 45.81
54 38.35 48.44 32.13 52.22
60 31.50 53.94 35.70 58.14
corrugations
3" X 1" Material Material+ Material Material+
Thickness Diameter(in) Price installation Price installation
48 28.19 46.30 31.55 49.66
54 31.72 52.81 35.50 56.59
60 35.24 58.80 39.44 63.00
14 Gage 66 38.77 65.40 43.39 70.02
72 42.29 71.41 47.33 76.45
78 45.81 78.52 51.27 83.98
18 7.02 11.93
24 8.77 14.98
For pipe arches - find the cost for equivalent round pipe & add 10%
Equipment Allowances
COST TO MOVE THE EQUIPMENT WITHIN THE PROJECT ARE WITHOUT THE
USE OF A LOWBOY. IF THE USE OF A LOWBOY IS NECESSARY WITHIN THE
PROJECT AREA, USE THE COSTS FROM THE MOVE IN COLUMN.
DISTANCE FACTOR
0 - 25 0.58
30 0.66
35 0.74
40 0.82
45 0.91
50 1.00
55 1.07
60 1.15
65 1.23
70 1.31
75 1.40
80 1.48
85 1.56
90 1.64
95 1.72
100 1.80
110 1.97
120 2.13
130 2.29
140 2.46
150 2.62
160 2.78
170 2.95
180 3.11
190 3.27
200 3.44
210 3.60
220 3.76
230 3.93
240 4.09
250 4.25
These gates are extensively used in many areas and many designs are available.
Four designs are shown, the rock filled barrel counterweight being very popular.
The cost is $450-650, the 95-125 lb. rails being more expensive.
Because of short sight distances on mountain roads, gates must be placed so as to allow
sufficient stopping distance for traffic. If this is impossible, warning signs must be placed
alongside the road 500 to 1000 feet away on one or both approaches. In addition, gates must
be painted a light or fluorescent color that is highly visible. Do not use white where snow is
encountered.
Quite often an information sign hung from the center of the gate can also serve to make the
gate more easily detected.