Management of Christchurch area's Highway Verge

Cutting of road verges is divided into two distinct programmes:

• rural – for roads with speed limits above 30 mph
• urban areas – for roads with speed limits under 30 mph

Rural areas

The rural cutting programme covers all verges on roads in the Christchurch area above 30mph. 

Cutting in 2019 will be undertaken by contractors or by in house teams – two cuts per year for A and B roads, one cut per year for C and D roads.

The junctions and visibility splays are cut by contractors and also regularly throughout the year on an ‘as needed’ basis by our  in house teams. Where required, we will undertake additional cutting anywhere on the network later in the season, in order to maintain safe passage along the highway. 

Urban areas

The urban areas, defined as those within the 30mph zones, are cut by in house teams for BCP Council.

Environmental Management

Under most circumstances the urban cutting cycle is seven cuts per year between March and September. We believe this is a sufficient level to maintain the safety of the network in urban areas.

In some places we trial new approaches to verge management to encourage.

Weed control

Control of weeds on highway hard services, e.g. kerb edges, is done with a biodegradable herbicide. This work is carried out once a year during the growing season. This helps reduce weeds and maintain the integrity of Highway infrastructure.