Pennsylvania PennDOT Erosion Control Products

Solmax DOT Standard Specification Product Chart (click image to expand)

Pennsylvania PennDOT - Erosion Control Methods

Pennsylvania jobs span glacial tills and lake clays in the north, red shale-derived clays and karstic limestones through the Ridge-and-Valley, steep Appalachian benches, and broad alluvial floodplains on the Susquehanna and Delaware—plus highly urbanized corridors in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Layer in nor’easters, tropical remnants, long freeze–thaw seasons, ice-out, and spring snowmelt, and freshly disturbed ground can ravel fast while ditches incise and deliver sediment to culverts and streams. PennDOT’s approach stacks controls that (1) protect bare soil, (2) slow and spread runoff, and (3) capture sediment until vegetation takes over.

Rolled erosion control products (RECPs). On new embankments, slope repairs, and roadside swales, crews install straw, excelsior, coconut/coir, or blended blankets to shield soil and seed from raindrop impact, wind, and meltwater. Straw blankets suit short, gentle slopes and low-velocity swales; heavier coir or straw–coir mats handle longer grades and higher shear common during nor’easters and spring thaws. Blankets are trenched at crest and toe, shingled downslope, and stapled to manufacturer patterns—with extra anchoring on exposed ridgelines. Along streams, coir logs are used to toe-in blanket edges and hold the line until roots knit the soil.

Turf-reinforcement mats (TRMs). Where velocities exceed temporary blanket limits—steep ditch reaches, culvert outlets, tight bends, and drawdown zones—synthetic TRMs provide durable, long-life reinforcement. Once vegetation roots through, the composite withstands repeated storms and fluctuating stages better than bare soil and can reduce the amount of riprap needed in constrained rights-of-way.

Hydraulic mulches and soil binders. Irregular cuts and broad, rocky or compacted slopes are stabilized with hydroseed plus hydromulch, bonded fiber matrix (BFM), or flexible growth media (FGM). BFMs form a breathable crust that resists sheet flow yet allows germination—ideal for quick cover between storm windows. Where straw mulch is used, it’s crimped into the surface and locked with tackifier or polymer binder so it won’t blow or float away during melt events.

Slope interrupters and perimeter controls. Fiber rolls (wattles) and compost filter socks placed on contour break long slope lengths, slow runoff, and trap sediment before rills form. At the disturbance boundary, silt fence excels in fine-grained tills when trenched and backfilled correctly; on stony shoulders or high-traffic zones, heavier filter socks provide stability and easier maintenance access. Capturing sheet flow high on the slope prevents water from building erosive energy.

Check structures and channels. Temporary rock or wattle check dams in construction ditches reduce velocities and settle suspended solids. Spacing is set so each crest ponds water to the toe of the next, creating stair-step energy dissipation. At outfalls and culvert aprons, crews pair RECPs or TRMs with riprap over an appropriate filter layer; coir logs keep toes tight until vegetation establishes. In very high-shear or rapid-drawdown areas, articulated concrete block mats add durability while still allowing plants to colonize the cells.

Inlet protection and track-out control. Curb socks, drop-inlet inserts, and gravel rings around grates keep sediment out of storm systems during grading and paving—especially important for MS4 compliance in urban corridors. Stabilized construction exits—coarse stone over geotextile—limit mud tracked onto public roads; sweeping backs them up where sticky clays cling to tires.

Basins, traps, stockpiles, and temporary drains. Sediment basins or traps intercept runoff from disturbed areas and provide settling time before discharge; temporary slope drains safely convey water down steep fills during early phases. Topsoil stockpiles are promptly seeded and mulched or covered; perimeter wattles or fence contain fines during storms and thaw.

Seasonal strategy and upkeep. With long winters and shoulder-season storms, crews use dormant seeding, higher mulch rates, robust blanket anchoring, and rapid temporary stabilization before shutdowns. After major rain, snowmelt, or ice-out, teams repair tears, reset stakes, clean inlet devices, remove accumulated sediment (often at half height), and reseed bare spots. Temporary controls come out once vegetation is dense and slopes and channels prove stable.

Bottom line: on PennDOT projects, erosion control isn’t one product—it’s a layered system. Blankets, TRMs, hydraulic mulches, wattles, silt fence, check dams, inlet protection, basins, and stabilized exits work together to tame storms and thaw cycles, protect waterways, and give vegetation the foothold it needs to lock Pennsylvania’s soils in place.

Pennsylvania PennDOT