Gravel Driveway Grading
Gravel Driveway Grading
(OP)
I have some retirement property in the foothills of the Andes in S. America.
The driveway from the main road to the house is about 70-80 meters at about a 25-30 deg slope (straight up!).
It is dirt and gravel and we are starting to get wheel ruts in it. It did have some grading to it, such that the highest point was the middle of the driveway, but overtime, the car wheels have carved out channels for the rain (or rain has carved out channels for the wheels!)...and it rains a lot during rainy season!
Don't have access, or money, for a grader or concrete and I'm looking for ideas on what to do for a longer term fix.
I'm thinking to install (dig/create) water runoff channels every 15-20 yards to divert the water to the drainage system on either side.
What else is needed? Bigger gravel, more gravel, ? How do I determine where to install runoffs, if that is what I need?
Any other suggestions of websites I can learn from?
...and yes, the best solution would be to wind the road up the slope....
The driveway from the main road to the house is about 70-80 meters at about a 25-30 deg slope (straight up!).
It is dirt and gravel and we are starting to get wheel ruts in it. It did have some grading to it, such that the highest point was the middle of the driveway, but overtime, the car wheels have carved out channels for the rain (or rain has carved out channels for the wheels!)...and it rains a lot during rainy season!
Don't have access, or money, for a grader or concrete and I'm looking for ideas on what to do for a longer term fix.
I'm thinking to install (dig/create) water runoff channels every 15-20 yards to divert the water to the drainage system on either side.
What else is needed? Bigger gravel, more gravel, ? How do I determine where to install runoffs, if that is what I need?
Any other suggestions of websites I can learn from?
...and yes, the best solution would be to wind the road up the slope....
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RE: Gravel Driveway Grading
Will need to know what is causing your problems. is it drainage, soil conditions, heavy traffic, or something else.
lacking information to base an opinion on, I can direct you to read up on typical methods and then maybe you will have better questions that could be answered.
http://anrcatalog.ucanr.edu/pdf/8262.pdf
https://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/stewardship/acc...
RE: Gravel Driveway Grading
RE: Gravel Driveway Grading
RE: Gravel Driveway Grading
RE: Gravel Driveway Grading
On my slopes, water velocities from really heavy storms can still erode channels, but have found the degree is reduced by not having long roadway ruts from constant driving in the same area.
Repeated driving in the ruts tends to of course raise the center area between the ruts, but more importantly raises the adjacent shoulder area, effectively berming the road to become a water channel and weakens the roadbed.