Driveway and Private Road Construction
A driveway or private road is a key piece of infrastructure necessary for any new construction project. Access to the site has to be stable for heavy construction traffic, and it needs to stand the test of time once the construction is done.
Building a new access road or drive is not as simple as dumping gravel. Many such roads have been built where proper consideration of the site conditions were not taken into account. As a result, the strength and longevity of the road are left compromised.
A properly built road is one that accounts for the specific needs of your property. Soil conditions, water table, run off, and proper materials are all key factors.
Drainage and Water Handling
One of the first and most important considerations for a new road is how water will flow and interact with the new structure. Water handling around a road is done using three main methods: Culverts, Under drainage, Shaping and Grading.
Culverts most people will be familiar with, they are often used at the road entrance, but they can also be necessary in other areas to avoid water pooling on one side of the road.
Under drainage is the next step to consider for areas with a lot of water movement. It is essentially perimeter drainage installed along the edge of your road. A crushed stone trench will allow relief for the water to flow and be directed into a culvert or natural drainage area…before that water can flow onto your road.
The finish grade of a road and the area around it is also a critical component of water movement. A roads “crown” will allow water to flow directly off it and into the ditching on either side, from there is it directed to flow around the road and empty where it naturally would before any road was present.
