ROADSIDE LANDSCAPE

CONTENTS
VALUE OF ROADSIDE LANDSCAPE
KEY PLAYERS IN ROADSIDE MANAGEMENT LANDSCAPE
VEGETATION MANAGEMENT PROCESS
ROADSIDE GRADING
LANDSCAPING ELEMENTS AND FIXED OBJECT
LOW GROWTH VEGETATION
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES
MINIMISING DISTURBANCE
PROTECT VEGETATION
MANAGE WEEDS
MINIMISE SOIL EROSION
VALUE OF GOOD ROAD LANDSCAPE
KEY ISSUES OF ROADSIDE LANDSCAPE
FIRE MANAGEMENT

VALUE OF ROADSIDE LANDSCAPE :

Roadsides are often the only place where remnant
vegetation or species of rare or
endangered plants
are found which have great value for nature
conservation.

VEGETATION MANAGEMENT
PROCESS

The department of main roads, local government

authorities and the community are the key players.
The department of main roads is responsible for
construction and maintenance of all state-controlled
roads.

In addition to their natural features, roadside areas

have value for historic and social reasons.
It is common to find survey markings on trees, old
bridges, ceremonial tree plantings and aboriginal sites
within the road reserve.

Within the department, road construction and

maintenance involves planners, design, construction
and management managers, and construction and
maintenance gangs.

Travelers use the shade and amenity of roadsides,

especially travelling long distances.

The department may however, transfer maintenance

responsibility to the local government once a road is
constructed.

Collectively these features of roadside landscape can

contribute to the tourism value of a region.

LANDSCAPING ELEMENTS & FIXED

OBJECTS

ROADSIDE GRADING
Since operational safety can be affected by the
landscape, a continuous length of the highway must
be visible to the driver (sight distance) and a lateral
run out area (clear zone) must be traversable and
free ofphysical obstructions.

Landscaping elements may consist of natural as well as

manmade features, e.g., groundcovers, flowers,
trees, and pavers.
Many of these features such as most groundcovers and
pavers allow a vehicle to safely pass over them and,
therefore, do not pose a significant risk to an errant
motorist.

Clear zones provide areas for drivers of errant

vehicles to regain control after running off the road.
Setback distances are measured to the face of the
fixed object from the traveled edge line of the
adjacent roadway.
For facilities with curb and gutter, setback distances
are measured from the face of curb to the face of
the object. Bike lane and parking lane widths may
be included in the setback distance.

KEY PLAYERS IN ROADSIDE

MANAGEMENT LANDSCAPE

For trees, this measurement shall be taken to the face of the trunk
2 feet above the ground line.

However, other features may be considered fixed objects

and are, therefore, potential safety hazards.

Large trees and shrubs may be planted within the setback limits
specified in this guide where the likelihood of an impact by an
errant vehicle is negligible; for example, on cut slopes above a
retaining wall or behind existing longitudinal barrier.

In general, a fixed object is any object that cannot be

driven over safely by an errant vehicle.

Swamp Flax cultivars

Phormium tenax cultivars.
The standard swamp flax grows to
3 - 4m and forms a large plant,
which is generally not suitable for
low growing highway situations.

Pohuehue
Forms a tangled thicket up to 80cm or more. Well
suited to coastal and dry situations. In locations
where growth is easier, the plants can grow more
quickly and remain somewhat open, allowing light
between the long shoots.It form a thick cover of the
ground. it is well suited for traffic islands where
long term low growth is desired.

Muehlenbeckia astonii. Hardy coastal

low growing plant that forms a very thick
mass up to 1m or more

Mountain Flax Phormium

cookianum.Grows to 1m. Hardy in dry
conditions, both on the coast and inland

Toe Toe Cortaderia. fulvida

fulvida grows up to 1.5m,
forming a dense cover well
suited for roadside planting
where sight lines are not
critical.

Giant umbrella sedge

Suited to damp areas, forms a
dense mass 1m high

Cyperus ustulatus. Forms a dense

mass up to 1m. Suited to damp areas,
both coastal and inland. Frost hardy.

Wind grass or Gossamer Grass

Anemanthele lessoniana
A tussock-forming grass. Plants typically
grow to 80 cm tall. The leaves are flat and
in open situations they turn orange. The
seed heads are tall and open. The plants
die back after several years, but naturally
reseed and continue to form a mass cover.
Excellent for traffic islands or roadside
planting. Tolerates frost and dry or damp
conditions.

Prostrate Coprosma.
forms a dense tangled thicket, and when
planted in groups, can form a mass that is
dense enough to suppress weeds and can be
trimmed if necessary to maintain a required
height. Excellent for traffic islands or edges
where low growth and low maintenance is
required

Climbing Rata. Metrosideros sp

Forms a dense cover that is very
attractive on batters. Prefers semi
shade with
reasonable moisture. Various species
are available, with some suiting coastal
areas and others cold locations.

Miniature toetoe Chionochloa species.

A range of tussock grasses are available that
can be used for highway situation. Possible
species include C flavicans and C rubra. They
prefer dry conditions and withstand cold
and frost. Height range from 75cm 1.5m,
so they are generally suited for berms where
sight lines are not critical. Often more suited to
areas where high amenity values are
important.

Kiokio ferns Blechnum novazealandiae

Ideally suited to damp or shady
batters, but does not like sunny, hot or
dry locationsDo not trim below 50cm

NZ Blueberry Dianella nigra

A lily like plant that grows to 50cm
high, with bright blue berries in
summer. Grows in
wet or dry hot conditions, but not in
cold South Island locations. Suited to
amenity planting.

FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES IN
ROADSIDE MANAGEMENT
Protect rate and endangered species
Conserve species of flora of scientific value.
Preserve land degradation due to soil erosion
and salinity.
Provide habitat for native fauna to maintain an
ecological balance and assists wildlife
movement.
Enhance the aesthetic value of roadside.
Rengarenga lilly Arthropodium cirratum
Low growing plant with a Lily form, prefers dry sites, needs frost free
conditions,attractive white flowers.
Should be planted into bark mulch, does not like being planted into synthetic mulch.
Good for high amenity areas. 50cm high..

NZ Iris Libertia sp
A range of low growing species that form
a dense sward, ideally suited to traffic
islands.
Orange coloured straight thin leaves,
small white flowers grows up to 40cm
high.
Frost hardy. Most suited to high
amenity areas.Generally prefer drier
areas, and thrive in full sun.

Provide shade and shelter to farmland and

road users.
Minimise management costs through
maintenance procedure.
Preserve historical values of roadside
features.

a low growth native vegetation treatment

MINIMISE DISTURBANCE

MANAGE WEEDS

Trees, shrubs and groundcovers combine to

provide valuable food and shelter for different
types of wildlife. Existing native vegetation will
require less maintenance if left undisturbed.

It is essential that road managers be aware of

invasive weeds in their particular area.

UNNECESSARY DISTURBANCE CAN :

Noxious and environmental weeds and

spread during both road construction and
maintenance.

Encourage weeds, which complete with native

plant and increase maintenance cost and fire risk
of roadside.
Prevent natural regeneration of native plants.
Increase the risk of soil erosion.

PROTECT VEGETATION

Cyperus ustulatus. Forms a dense mass up to 1m. Suited to damp areas, both
coastal and inland. Frost hardy

MINIMISING SOIL EROSION

Erosion removes valuable topsoil and
produces sediment which inturn silts drains,
rivers.

Healthy vegetation is a major environmental

and economic asset . It is cheaper and easier
to protect existing trees, shrubs and
groundcovers than it is to replant them.

Erosion can be accentuated through

unneccesary construction and maintenance
practice.

IN PROTECTING EXISTING
VEGETATION :
Avoid strong materials and equipments under
trees. Vehicles should not be driven under
trees or over other native plants. This will
damage vegetation and compact the soil,
stopping air from reaching the roots.

PRINCIPLES FOR MINIMISING SOIL

EROSION :
Stripping and stockpiling for later use.
Protect vegetation. It protects ground surface
and slow down water runoff.

Fence off areas where above problems may

occur. Owen mesh barrier, wire fencing or
large logs can be used.

Replant or stabilise disturbed soil.

Batter overspray

Kiokio ferns mulched to the base present a

brown unattractive finish

THE VALUE OF GOOD ROAD LANDSCAPE

When it is designed well the landscape becomes an
important component of the road network.
It is one of the key elements that contribute to the
character of an area the combination of landscape and
built form helps provide a unique sense of place of value
to the community.
It helps integrate or fit the road into its setting.
It provides structure and a three dimensional scale to the
road corridor.
It helps unify the road corridor environment, providing
interest and a milestone to users as well as helping create
a simple, strong and intuitive driving experience.

The Norfolk Island Pines along Botany

Bay are an integral part of the character of
the area.

The landscape of the road corridor

contributes to the quality of journey and
the quality of the area.

A successful revegetation along

the median and verge two years
after native seeding.

It can be a valuable ecological asset in an area, especially

when adjacent land is over-developed or when existing
habitats and ecological corridors need to be augmented
and connected.
It provides shade for pedestrian areas and buildings and
a setting to take a break from driving in rest areas along
the road network.
It is valuable in terms of impact mitigation. It screens
undesirable views of roads and traffic, helps filter air
and water pollutants, suppresses weed growth, helps
reconnect habitat, and can help recover threatened
species. It also minimises the carbon footprint of road
works for at least the lifetime of the landscape.
It can contribute to a safer road, for example, by screening
headlight glare, slowing errant vehicles and helping create
an intuitive, self explaining driving experience.
It helps stabilise slopes and minimise erosion.

If designed without consideration of road

safety, especially clear zones, the
landscape can be dangerous and impair the
safe operation of the road and ongoing
community acceptance of roadside trees
(France).

The clear zone varies for different speed roads. Slower speed
urban roads (upper) have narrower clear zones than high
speed rural roads (lower).

KEY ISSUES

FIRE MANAGEMENT

When it is designed and managed poorly, landscape can be

a problem:

Fire is a natural component of the environment and can be used proactively to

encourage health and diversity of vegetation. The management of fire can be
seen as a community responsibility that aims to:

Overly complicated designs can look inappropriate and

be expensive to maintain.
Permits for traffic lane closures for landscape maintenance
are expensive, time consuming and difficult to obtain.
Poor plant selection can result in unsuccessful, ailing
planting designs, increased bushfire risk or can be
ecologically damaging by introducing inappropriate or
weed species.
Too much planting can block views and make the
journey monotonous for road users.
Incorrect plant sizes and densities can lead to unsuccessful,
high cost maintenance outcomes and a higher risk of
weed infestation.
Poor location of planting can result in damage to the
road infrastructure, interference with utilities, obstruction
of signage and problems of maintenance.

Protect road users.

Reduce the severity of fires.
Fire will burn in most areas if the soil dries out sufficiently. The behaviour of fire
will depend on following factor :
The type of understorey, including grasses, groundcover, and shrubs and
arrangement.
The amount of fuel load.
The continuity of fuel bed and its ability to spread
The presence of fuel ladders such as loose bark on the trunk.
Density of the canopy.
The fire history of the area should be investigated before undertaking any fire
management practices.
the fire history of an area includes an identification of the frequency, seasonality,
intensity and distribution of fire throughout an area. These characteristics in turn
have a specific effect upon plant regeneration following a fire occurance.

Drawings serve many purposes. Artists

impressions and photomontages are useful for
public consultation, sketches are fine for
general project team use.