Pennsylvania’s Dirt, Gravel and Low Volume Road (DGLVR) Maintenance Program provides education, technical assistance, and grant funding to local public road-owning entities throughout the commonwealth.

The DGLVR program’s goal is to implement Environmentally Sensitive Maintenance Practices aimed at reducing the environmental impacts of public roads and long-term maintenance costs.

The PA State Conservation Commission (SCC) administers the program at the state level and allocates funding to conservation districts in 65 counties throughout Pennsylvania. Owners of public roads apply for grants to their local conservation district and work with them to complete projects.

Last year, the Pike County Conservation District entered into four contracts with three different municipalities to complete Dirt, Gravel and Low Volume Road projects. Due to an unusually wet summer and fall, two of those projects had to be postponed until Spring of 2019.

Shohola Township

One of the projects completed was a low volume road in Shohola Township called Glen Drive. Some of the Environmentally Sensitive Maintenance practices implemented on this road include road filling, ditch grading and stabilization, underdrain installation, culvert pipe replacement and installation, as well as the installation of a drop inlet.

The old chip and tar road surface was removed and replaced. The improvements made on this road will help maintain proper stormwater drainage, which will ultimately add to the life expectancy of the road. The total grant amount for this project was $50,938.24.

Greene Township

Greene Township completed a dirt and gravel road project on Sawmill Road. Environmentally Sensitive Management Practices implemented include road fill, waterbar installation, culvert pipe replacement and installation, ditch grading, and embankment stabilization.

1,650 tons of Driving Surface Aggregate (DSA) was placed on the road surface. DSA was developed by Penn State’s Center for Dirt and Gravel Road Studies. It is a mixture of crushed stone developed specifically as a surface wearing course for unpaved roads. DSA has a unique particle size distribution designed to maximize packing density and produce a durable road surface that performs better than conventional aggregates.

Conservation District staff and Board Members continue to work with representatives from PA Fish and Boat Commission and the Natural Resource Conservation Service on the DGLVR Program. Both organization sit on Pike County’s Quality Assurance Board. This board prioritizes submitted DGLVR applications and funds projects. To learn more about the program, you can visit the Programs and Services page on the District website.

The District is currently accepting applications for future Dirt, Gravel, and Low Volume Road Projects. Any state or local public entity that owns and maintains public roads is eligible to apply for DGLVR Program funding.

If you have questions regarding the program or whether or not your road would be eligible for funding, please contact the District for assistance.