How to Put a Culvert in a Driveway

Building a house in a rural or undeveloped area often requires installing devices for bridging over a public ditch to the driveway. A culvert is usually mandatory to keep ditches from becoming blocked with built-up sediment from traffic, and it helps provide an accessible, well-draining driveway. Improperly installed culverts can impact on drainage and public roads; professional installation is recommended and there may be a local permit and inspection process. Check with local government, engineers and suppliers for best practices in the area.

Culvert, corrugated steel pipe
Backfill gravel, 1/4 inch to 1 inch
Top backfill gravel, 3/4 inch to 2 inch, road mix quality
Drain rock, 2 to 6 inches
Vibrating compactor

Instructions

- 1
  Determine the required diameter of culvert from regulations or engineering specifications for the conditions. The culvert should extend beyond the width of the driveway by a few feet on each side.
- 2
  Remove all organic material in the area where the culvert is to be located and excavate 6 inches below the low point of the ditch for the length of the culvert in line with the direction that water flows. Fill the excavated area with backfill gravel.
- 3
  Place the culvert on the gravel, with its low point 1 inch below the low point, or flow line, of the ditch. Make sure the pipe is sloped so that water can move through it.
- 4
  Backfill the length of each side of the pipe with gravel. Place it in layers 6 inches deep and compact each layer before continuing. Cover the pipe with backfill gravel to the recommended minimum depth for the pipe size. Finish the last 3 inches with road mix, or top backfill-type, gravel.
- 5
  Place drain rock in front of each end of the culvert, 3 inches deep, for the width of the culvert and at least 3 feet in length.
- 6
  Level the backfill with the shoulder of the road. Leave the ditch and road shoulder in raked and clean condition. The gravel cover can be finished with paving.

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