What Is Cut and Fill Excavation for Road Construction? | All You Need To Know

One of the most important activities done during the construction of a road is land preparation. Building roads, railways, or canals involves the addition or removal of large quantities of dirt and stone. This process is known as “cut and fill,” a common method of moving the earth systematically.

In this article, we’ll explain cut and fill excavation and why it is important in constructing roads. Keep reading!

How Is Earth Cutting and Filling Done?

The process of cutting and filling is only used when there is a significant difference in the elevation of the cut and fill areas.

Earth (land) is removed or cut from the high area and poured into the lower area (also known as the fill area) until the desired elevation line is achieved.

This is not a job that can be handled by anyone other than professional contractors working with specialized equipment to create the desired terrain.

The construction process requires the use of sophisticated calculation methods that create cut and fill maps to determine the right cut or fill depth to be targeted.

[Related: Driveway Excavation Guide In Prescott, AZ]

The Difference Between the Cut and Fill Process

Cutting and filling are construction processes that contractors do when removing earth from the cut area and then dumping excess rock in the fill area.

The difference between these two manual methods can be summarized by the following definitions:

• Cut: Earth is removed from a higher elevation area
• Fill: Excess earth is brought into a lower area

Cutting and filling during road construction enable contractors to save energy and maximize the use of existing materials. Although common, these two processes can still be tedious and time-consuming. 

To avoid these problems, project planners use precise and intelligent cut-and-fill maps. These maps provide detailed plans to guide road and driveway excavation teams to the most effective use of labor and material.

Usage of Cut and Fill Map

Cut-and-fill maps are used to illustrate the cut-and-fill area using an existing terrain model to help estimate the time, equipment, and construction labor required.

There are two-dimensional and three-dimensional models that can be used, although the latter is the preferred option for the more sophisticated calculation methods that are used these days.

When software calculations are used, different areas on the cut and fill maps are shown using different colors. The size of cut and fill projects will determine which type of map is used.

Contour lines are used to show the following existing topographical features on the maps:

• Hill
• Saddle
• Valley
• Ridge
• Depression
• Cliff

How Do You Calculate Cut and Fill Volumes?

The chosen calculation method depends largely on how the existing topography lies and the type of cut-and-fill excavation projects required.

There are many types of software that are used to calculate various things, such as the amount of fill needed to be moved from the cut area by the dump trucks.

Choosing between, for example, a cross-section method and a grid method depends on the proposed ground level that you hope to achieve.

Only when the proposed land levels are compared to the existing terrain by taking highly precise measurements, can we begin to calculate the cut and fill volumes

Alternatives To Cut and Fill Excavation

There are some alternatives to cutting and filling, such as when piers are used on the lower side of a building that has been constructed on a slope.

However, when cut and fill methods are used on the same terrain features, the overall project costs will be much lower.

It is also easier and less time-consuming to construct a road on a continuous surface that has been cut and filled properly than on land prepared in any other way.

[Related: 5 Tips In Excavating For A Gravel Driveway In Arizona]

Specialty Grading – The Cut and Fill Excavation Experts

With so many different types of terrains occurring naturally, it is not easy to find a contractor who knows how to effectively prepare land for the road foundation and building features that will be constructed.

Specialty Grading consists of excavators specializing in the proper execution of cut-and-fill excavation projects.

Our impressive track record of providing top-notch services, built over 20 years of serving the people of Prescott Valley, Arizona, speaks for itself.

We are specialists in a wide range of cut and fill methods, utilizing sophisticated calculations, such as the following:

• Cross section method
• Grid method
• Triangular prism method

For a project quote or to learn more about our services, contact our excavation team at (928) 899-8313.