It's best to construct new roads several weeks or longer in advance of logging. This allows the surface to stabilize and minimizes soil movement. Poorly located forest roads can cause serious erosion and water-quality problems. As a rule of thumb, road clearance for log trucks should be at least 12 feet of running surface, with 2 to 3 feet of clearance on each side. This allows sunlight to reach the road, which will dry it out quicker in wet weather.
Drainage is important to forest roads.
Install structures designed to move water off the road as quickly and efficiently as possible. However, it is essential to keep runoff out of streams. Direct runoff water to areas where it infiltrates the soil or at least deposits its sediment load. There are several methods and structures for providing effective road drainage. But one of the most economical and practical ways is called breaking grade.