Road work suggestions needed!

2250 Views 4 Replies 3 Participants Last post by Nuru, May 2, 2011

Nuru

Discussion Starter · Apr 30, 2011

Hey all, one of my relatives just bought some acreage and wants a service road of gravel about 1/2 mile long. What should one use for attachments to make the road. We have a dirt scoop a loader, no box blade or other wide earth moving attachments. Any suggestions are appreciated.

Save

1 - 5 of 5 Posts

Kennyd

· #2 · May 1, 2011

Is this going to be the main road in and out? What will the frequency of use? What kind of traffic (cars,big trucks,ect.)

The "proper" way would be to excavate out the top soil (8-10") then put down a base like crusher-run and compact it with a roller then top with a #57 or similar stone.

Save

eepete

· #3 · May 1, 2011

What kind of soil are you in? Any low spots or culverts needed?

I've done a thin crusher run - rail road ballast - crusher run "sandwich" and after it's either packed in or settled with time a layer of screened crusher run where where the biggest rock in there is about 3/4" or so. If you go with the big rocks (rail road ballast), you're committing to covering with a lot of gravel later so that when you groom/clean/fix things you don't bring the big rocks back up. If you pull them up later, they are not going back down. In some parts of the country the combination of frost heaves and "the mud season" make big rocks not work, speak of which:

I'd also ask around (perhaps start with a gravel hauler and/or grading guy) and find out what is the "norm" locally for building gravel roads.

I did not use a roller, but for about a month during house construction had just the rail road ballast during a phase when lots of big trucks came in. A lot of complaints about the rough road, but it all got packed. Then I put down a 1st layer of crusher run, very thin, to smooth it out a bit and after construction the 2nd layer of crusher run, and then a year later the 3/4 screened. I still need to do one more layer of 3/4 screened.

Good drainage is the number one thing to get right when grading in the road. I had an area that had a slight tilt to it. I did not want the water running over the driveway, so I had to bring in some "help". Did a cut and fill, and made sure there was a drainage ditch on what was the high side of the road.

Enclosed are some pix of a section. I just put down a layer of crusher run, and then when it was time to build I did the railroad ballast.

Pete

See less See more

Save

Nuru

Discussion Starter · #4 · May 2, 2011

Kennyd said:
Is this going to be the main road in and out? What will the frequency of use? What kind of traffic (cars,big trucks,ect.)

The "proper" way would be to excavate out the top soil (8-10") then put down a base like crusher-run and compact it with a roller then top with a #57 or similar stone.

KennyD, I think this is going to be the initial service road for construction, then the main drive later on. The land is probably former farm land. I was thinking the same thing as you to put in a simple road as you described.

Save

Nuru

Discussion Starter · #5 · May 2, 2011

eepete said:
What kind of soil are you in? Any low spots or culverts needed?

I've done a thin crusher run - rail road ballast - crusher run "sandwich" and after it's either packed in or settled with time a layer of screened crusher run where where the biggest rock in there is about 3/4" or so. If you go with the big rocks (rail road ballast), you're committing to covering with a lot of gravel later so that when you groom/clean/fix things you don't bring the big rocks back up. If you pull them up later, they are not going back down. In some parts of the country the combination of frost heaves and "the mud season" make big rocks not work, speak of which:

I'd also ask around (perhaps start with a gravel hauler and/or grading guy) and find out what is the "norm" locally for building gravel roads.

I did not use a roller, but for about a month during house construction had just the rail road ballast during a phase when lots of big trucks came in. A lot of complaints about the rough road, but it all got packed. Then I put down a 1st layer of crusher run, very thin, to smooth it out a bit and after construction the 2nd layer of crusher run, and then a year later the 3/4 screened. I still need to do one more layer of 3/4 screened.

Good drainage is the number one thing to get right when grading in the road. I had an area that had a slight tilt to it. I did not want the water running over the driveway, so I had to bring in some "help". Did a cut and fill, and made sure there was a drainage ditch on what was the high side of the road.

Enclosed are some pix of a section. I just put down a layer of crusher run, and then when it was time to build I did the railroad ballast.

Pete

Pete, thanks for the info.You and Kenny have provided a lot of good info. I was also thinking my relatives should call in local help and get it done right and done quick.

Save

1 - 5 of 5 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.

Road work suggestions needed!

Nuru

Kennyd

eepete

Attachments

Nuru

Nuru

Top Contributors this Month