unsurfaced

Unsurfaced is an adjective used to describe something that does not have a surface treatment or finishing layer added to it. In infrastructure, it most commonly refers to roads, runways, or paths that lack a paved or sealed surface. The term contrasts with surfaced, which denotes materials such as asphalt, concrete, or tightly bound stone.

In the context of transportation, unsurfaced roads consist of dirt, gravel, crushed stone, or other loose materials. They may be called unpaved or unmetalled in some regions. Characteristics include variable ride quality, poorer drainage, higher dust and erosion, and maintenance that focuses on grading, compaction, and keeping ruts under control. Weather conditions can render a road impassable or regional speed limits may apply. Unsurfaced airstrips or runways are typically short, rural facilities with turf, gravel, or dirt surfaces; they require favorable winds, visibility, and surface conditions for safe landings.

Unsurfaced can also describe non-transport surfaces, such as floors or pavements left without finishing coatings or synthetic coverings. In landscaping or construction, unsurfaced walkways or plazas may be used temporarily or deliberately for aesthetic or functional reasons, with plain, natural ground or minimal surfacing.

The use of unsurfaced infrastructure is often linked to cost, climate, traffic volume, and maintenance capacity. In planning documents, the term helps distinguish projects that require paving from those that do not.

See also: paved, unpaved, unsealed, gravel road.