Gravel Driveway

[roaddog117]

I need some info: I am building a gravel driveway thru the woods, 1000' long. How wide do I need to cut my trees back so that I have room for the drive and ditches? I'm thinking 10' for the road and 10' for the ditches on each side but not sure this is wide enough. Should I cut a 30' wide path? Thanks

 

[toolsorbust]

I would go a lot wider. While it is nice to have the trees along the driveway you will find that trees cause problems. On the southern side of the driveway you will want the trees back far enough so that sunlight can shine on the driveway most of the day. the sun will keep it dryer than if it is shaded. Ive lived on gravel roads all my life and it does make a difference. The shaded parts of the road always seem to turn to mud during bad weather with out the sun to help dry it that moisture just soaks in. Also make sure that the driveway that it has a real good crown across the road. I hope this helps.

 

[roaddog117]

Thanks alot, now I can sleep at night. I hired a dozer for one day so I could cut the trees and skid them out with my 4530 Mahindra. Now I know how wide to cut. I have 15 acres that I will build a few RV sites on for my RV and for friends when they visit. It's a mud hole right now. The photo's were taken this summer when the dust was ankle deep.

 

[Conservation]

If you get snow there, the wider path will give you somewhere to put the snow when you plow.

 

[bobodu]

If you get snow there, the wider path will give you somewhere to put the snow when you plow.

Yeah...that too!!
I was thinking it'll give you someplace to go if you slide of the crown.
Don't ask me how I know.

 

[BruceWard]

This is my recently completed 640' driveway. The clearing is a little over 30' wide

This picture which was taken before the culvert was installed and with half the city in place shows the D4H which built the driveway

The D4H spent 12 to 14 hours pushing the trees over and out to the sides of the driveway, removing the topsoil and spreading the 404 yards of city pit that now cover the first 500' of the driveway.

I let a company that sells firewood come in and take the trees as logs. They used a tractor to load them and removed most of the driveway trees in a few days.

I have used my B21 to move the stumps to the yard area and used wood left from the tops of the trees to burn them.

I had planned for a narrower driveway but a I am happy with the wider result. I suggest that you go for 30'. The extra width helps with quick drying, provides plenty of room to manuver my tractor and keeps limbs way back.

 

[mjncad]

What does your local fire department recommend? Narrow roads may be cozy; but fire trucks need room to get in and out. For all I know impeded fire truck access could affect your homeowner's insurance rates.

I seem to recall Jefferson County, Colorado was encouraging mountain homeowners to make sure their driveways are wide enough for fire trucks to get in there if they expect the fire department to have a reasonable chance of fighting a house fire on the property.

 

[roaddog117]

Thanks for the photo's, they helped a lot. I have a 50' right away with 10' on each side for utilites, that leaves me 30' for the road. I will cut it 30' wide. I like this site, you guys a very helpful.

I like being married, but I love my tractor!