Our maintenance department will be working on shoulder cutting roads throughout the RM until the grass grows too long to continue. This process does cause some short term inconvenience, but is an important part of our road maintenance program.
What is Shoulder Cutting?
Over time, traffic and weather push gravel off the road surface onto the shoulders and into the ditches. This causes roads to flatten, lose proper drainage, and become more difficult to maintain. Shoulder cutting restores the road by bringing this material back onto the driving surface and reshaping the road.
What Does the Process Include?
- Pulling material from the road shoulders and ditch areas back onto the road.
- Reshaping side slopes and improving ditch drainage.
Why Shoulder Pulling is Important
Proper drainage is one of the most important parts of maintaining a good gravel road. Shoulder cutting helps water run off the road surface, reducing potholes, soft spots, and long-term damage.
The process also:
- Reuses gravel that has been pushed off the road by traffic.
- Extends the life of the road at a fraction of the cost of full reconstruction.
- Reduces future maintenance requirements and gravel usage.