Tag:surface=compacted

surface = compacted
Description
Surface made of a compacted mixture of coarse, fine and very fine mineral aggregate.
Group: properties
Used on these elements
Useful combination
highway=* smoothness=* maxspeed:practical=* tracktype=*
Status: de facto
surface=compacted $1% $1% $1% $1% More details at taginfo
Tools for this tag
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surface=compacted is made of a mixture of coarse, fine and very fine mineral aggregate (e.g. 0-16 or 0-32 mm diameter, from dust to gravel), compacted so the visible pieces become firmly embedded in the fine mass and the resulting surface reliably stable.

Chiefly used to improve minor and countryside roads, it is sometimes known by its historical precedent as water-bound macadam. Such roads are called "gravel road" in some parts of the world, but compacted is more precise than gravel.

It is the best sort of road surface short of paving with asphalt or concrete. It degrades quicker though. Roads with slight degradation – some potholes, slight accumulation of dirt or loss of small amounts of material remain surface=compacted.

smoothness=* may be added to specify the physical usability by different types of wheeled vehicles. Compacted roads typically fall into grade2 of the tracktype=* classification (considering firmness, construction and/or maintenance.)

Examples

• 
  surface=compacted road with a minor damage.
• 
  Pothole in surface=compacted road. Like with surface=asphalt presence of potholes is not changing surface type.
• 
  High-quality compacted path. Note scooter with small wheels comfortable riding on it
• 
  State of the art centreline crowned water bound surface=compacted forest track with drainage ditches.
• 
  Typical Australian signed "gravel" road, surface=compacted still applies.
• 
  Typical Australian signed "gravel" road, surface=compacted still applies.
• 
  Typical Australian signed "gravel" road, surface=compacted still applies.

Counterexamples

• 
  Poorly made surface=compacted eroded by water, turned into surface=gravel.
• 
  Temporary road - there is some fine material present, but coarse gravel dominates, surface=gravel by community decision even though compacted by heavy lorry tyres.

See also

• surface=gravel — loose aggregate, no binding fines
• surface=fine_gravel — loose fine aggregate, particles shift under load
• surface=dirt — natural soil surface, prone to erosion
• surface=ground — unimproved natural surface, material unspecified

External links

• Surface type: gravel vs fine_gravel vs compacted (2023) — establishes the stability distinction: compacted does not shift under load; fine_gravel may leave tyre marks
• How to tag highways that are compacted crushed limestone (2023) — confirms surface=compacted for bound aggregate regardless of rock type; material detail can be added with surface:material=*
• What makes a surface compacted? (2026) — establishes that grading and compacting are distinct operations; the finished surface condition determines the tag, not the machinery or construction method
• Community poll: surface=compacted definition (2026) — establishes the boundary between compacted and gravel by community vote
• Finnish Road Administration, Gravel Road Maintenance and Repair (Tie 1485, 2005) — engineering manual for bound compacted wearing layers; confirms truck-pass compaction as standard practice alongside roller use