Grass Cutting

The policy of the Department for Regional Development Roads Service with respect to grass cutting is to ensure that its condition does not affect the safety of road users within public road boundaries.

The policy attempts to balance the safety and convenience of road users, the legal requirements in relation to noxious weeds, the effects of the operation on the environment and the funds available for the work. Recognition is also made of the impact on flora and fauna and the fact that smaller species of wildlife rely on ground cover for their existence.

The current grass cutting policy broadly allows for routine cutting up to twice a year in rural areas over 1 swathe width (approximately 1.2m) and in urban areas, up to five times a year across the full verge. Grass on sight lines, at road junctions and bends is cut more frequently as required. The total length of verges to be cut is of the order of 45,000 km (Approximately 96,000 Swathe km).