Utah Stabilized Construction Entrance/Exit

The vast arid landscapes of Utah include beautiful rock arches and formations as well as vast canyon systems. The snow stored in the Rocky Mountains to the east supply water to the various rivers and lakes throughout the state. As the population of Utah continues to grow and expand, the local governments are careful to protect the water resources, which both support the local ecosystems and attract visitors from across the country.

Utah Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)

The Utah Department of Environmental Quality has many divisions which protect and regulate air quality, drinking water, waste management/radiation control, environmental response, and surface water quality. The Clean Water Act of 1972 established the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program to protect the surface waters from excess sedimentation and contamination with harmful pollutants. In Utah, the the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) administers the Clean Water Act through the Utah Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (UPDES) and requires permits for any stormwater discharges from construction, industrial and municipal activities. For activities on tribal land, including Navajo land, permits are issued by the Federal EPA.

UPDES Construction General Permit (UTRC00000)

Any construction activities that will disturb one or more acres of land are required to obtain a UPDES Stormwater Permit. Many construction projects can apply for a Construction General Permit which covers the common types of construction operations. If not eligible for coverage under the Construction General Permit, operators must apply for an individual permit for their construction activity.

Single lot residential projects that disturb less than one acre of land and are part of a common plan of development or sale may be covered under the Common Plan Permit (UTRH00000) in lieu of this permit. To obtain a Construction General Permit, operators must submit a Notice of Intent (NOI) as well as a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP). A Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) is a site-specific, written document that identifies potential sources of storm water pollution at the construction site and specifies techniques that will be implemented to reduce or eliminate pollutants in storm water discharges from the construction site. The techniques used to mintage pollution are called Best Management Practices or BMPs. The BMPs range in purpose from soil stabilization, water retention, water flow reduction, drainage management, erosion and sediment control, and vehicle tracking.

Because water that enters stormwater drains is not processed or filtered before entering the surface waters, care must be taken during construction work to prevent excessive sedimentation and contamination. One of the first BMPs to be installed on a construction site is a Construction Entrance/Exit which is designed to capture dirt, sediment, and other debris from vehicle tires before they leave the site.

Utah Stabilized Construction Entrance/Exit

The DEQ describes the use of a Stabilized Construction Entrance/Exit at construction egress points. The Stabilized Construction Entrance/Exit is designed to minimize sediment track-out onto impermeable roadways where it can be wash down storm drains. One type of BMP technique that is used to stabilize a construction entrance is the use of a stone tracking pad. A stone tracking pad consists of an area that is excavated, then lined with a Geotextile fabric and covered with a 6 inch thick layer of aggregate. The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) spec for a stone stabilized construction entrance states that the entrance should be 50 feet in length and have a wide turning radius. The standard also includes a requirement for 2—3 inch aggregate for use on the entrances.

The entrance must be maintained to continue to remove mud and dirt from the tires of construction vehicles as they enter or leave a construction site from a public right of way, street, alley, sidewalk, or parking area. When entrances become buried in soil, they will require top dressing with aggregate. In addition, the roadway may need to be cleaned with a shovel, vacuum or sweeper to ensure tracked sediment does not wash into storm drains or cause road hazards (water should not be used). When the project is complete, the rock and Geotextile fabric should be removed and the soil should be remediated or reseeded to restore to the original state.

If the rock entrance does not provide adequate containment, supplemental BMPs such as wheel washing must be used. When a wheel wash is used, a sediment basin must be installed to capture the excess water runoff to avoid sediment from entering storm drains. Wheel wash systems can be effective, but require a source of water and power throughout the project.

FODS Track out Control Mats

FODS Trackout Control System is an effective and more cost-saving alternative to the traditional crushed stone construction entrance/exit or vehicle wash BMPs. FODS Trackout Control Mats are made of durable, high-density composite material and are designed to be reused for over 10 years. This modern approach to vehicle track-out containment has been demonstrated to remove up to 59% more sediment than traditional rock stabilized construction entrances.

The unique pyramid design manipulates vehicle tires as they drive over the mats to remove mud and dirt from between the tire treads. The design offers many benefits over traditional track-out BMP solutions. The effectiveness of these mats will can prevent the need for an supplement wheel wash station and sediment trap. Because the system does not use pressurized water, rock or other consumable material, there is a very low operating cost and no requirement for a water source, power source, sediment basin, or additional rock refreshes. In addition, FODS eliminates risks of tracking aggregate onto active highways and roadways in dual tire vehicles which can expel trapped stones at high velocity.

FODS can be installed without excavation and over the top of many different surfaces including asphalt, soil, and concrete. The mats can be easily relocated and maintained without the need for heavy equipment or constant maintenance. Sediment is contained at the base of the pyramids while vehicles drive over the tops of the pyramids. After 2.5 inches of sediment builds at the base of the pyramids, the mat can be easily cleaned and restored to full functionality using a skid steer with a broom attachment or manually using a FODS shovel.

A standard FODS 1x5T Layout is commonly used to replace crushed stone construction exits up to 70 feet in length and provides a wide turning radius for exiting traffic. FODS can help you effectively cut costs and save time. These durable mats are designed to withstand 10+ years of service.