Top 6 Benefits of Right of Way (ROW) Maintenance & Clearing
Infrastructure components such as overhead power lines and underground pipelines are vital to keeping businesses and homes going across the country. As a result, the land around these important systems needs to be easily accessible to allow companies to continue providing uninterrupted supply to customers. But who maintains the land? This is where the critical job of right-of-way (ROW) maintenance comes in.
What Is ROW Maintenance?
Overhead power lines and underground pipelines run along extensive areas of land. Much of this is thick scrubland, and without constant clearing and maintenance, the infrastructure would be inaccessible or at least very difficult to access. The land can be both government or privately owned.
Right-of-Way (ROW) maintenance is an essential service in which the land is kept clear by companies that specialize in land clearing and tree removal. The path needs to be cleared to the extent that an aerial view has full visibility.
For transportation purposes, ROW is publicly owned land. In order for the road services to be maintained, a county will purchase more land, including private land, to ensure there is adequate ROW access.
6 Reasons to Invest in ROW Clearing Services
ROW clearing contractors are experts in their field and use specialized equipment. There is a right way to perform ROW clearing, and it should never be approached as an afterthought. Qualified right-of-way clearing services are an investment in the future of any company that relies on infrastructure.
There are six major reasons to invest in ROW clearing services:
1. Improves Accessibility
Accessibility is paramount in maintaining infrastructure. For example, work crews and emergency vehicles need to reach pipelines and power lines, and uncleared land would make the task close to impossible.
As some of the terrain is so dense, specialized heavy machinery is necessary to clear a path. Maintenance and emergency crews would be unable to access the land without the ROW clearing.
Commercial and industrial areas need to have overgrown trees and other hazards kept clear so that people can reach their destination safely.
2. Protects Infrastructure
Because a community cannot function without infrastructure, keeping it safe is imperative. In order to remove anything that could be an obstacle to the functioning of the infrastructure, ROW clearing contractors provide the following services:
- Removing branches near power lines
- Keeping tree roots from growing too close to an underground pipeline
- Removing fire hazards
- Clearing potential infestations of snakes and rats
- Grading grassed areas
- Removing frail or dead trees near roads
ROW clearing is focused on preventative measures and mitigating potential risks that could cause a failure in infrastructure. Something as simple as tree roots could penetrate pipelines and cause a major disruption in crucial supplies of gas, chemicals, or oil.
3. Enhances Aesthetics
Professional ROW clearing contractors remove debris, overgrown brush, weeds, and trees that are growing out of control or in the wrong areas. Removal of thick shrubbery not only leaves a workable space but also enhances the aesthetics.
Whether the affected land is along hiking trails, paths, roads, or powerlines, clearing it out makes access easier and improves the look and useability.
4. Increases Visibility
In order for infrastructure to be monitored, it needs to be visible from both the air and the ground. Powerlines run for many miles, and monitoring them by air is a necessity. Cleared land allows pilots to have unobstructed visibility and to spot any issues quickly.
Any damage to powerlines or pipelines can cause disruptions to thousands of homes, so clear areas are essential. Emergency vehicles and maintenance crews rely on an unobstructed path to gain access to every area of the infrastructure.
5. Maintains Safety
ROW clearing is a solid preventative measure that clears away any obstacle that would not only damage infrastructure and property but cause significant risk to people.
For example, roads that have overhanging trees are a risk to both power lines and drivers. ROW maintenance that is performed by professionals keeps public safety at the forefront.
Regular ROW maintenance also ensures that pipelines and power lines are kept safe from any threat, be it human or otherwise. Safe operations are a vital part of keeping infrastructure compliant and protected.
6. Increases Land Value
Land that is cleared of unwanted pests, weeds, and an overgrowth of scrubland is easier to maintain, aesthetically pleasing, and more desirable. A plot that is cleared by professionals who have managed the process expertly is worth more than heavily overgrown and inaccessible land. It’s a simple way to increase your property value.
ROW clearing services are of benefit to everyone. Infrastructure that is maintained and secure ensures that communities receive vital gas, chemical, and oil supplies without disruption. At the same time, the public is kept safe through preventative measures.
Coastal Spray Provides Professional Right-of-Way Services
We have been providing professional right-of-way services since 1980. We approach each job individually and customize a plan that incorporates canopy trimming, mowing, chemical applications, mulching, arborist services, and more.
At Coastal Spray, there is no one-size-fits-all mentality. Our specialized machinery enables us to perform ROW clearing to the highest level. No other company is as qualified to perform professional right-of-way services as Coastal Spray.
Contact us today to get started.