Fired Road contractor. Build it myself?

[WoodChuckDad]

Yeah, size does matter....

My wife is a heck of a worker. The Queen Bee is the ultimate worker bee too. When we are doing a task that both of us can jump into, she is usually driving the tractor. So she could take loads up to the dumpsite, less than 1000 yds away, and when she is working that out I could be doing prep.....There is lots to do, besides just shoveling raw dirt. I think it would be very efficient in comparison to working by myself. Probably more than twice the amount of work could be done. As it is, I am either moving the soil across the road or I am piling it behind me. I could just put most of it in the dump trailer...and while she was taking it up to dump, I could work and fill the downs slope....move debris off the area I was going to work. I don't think I could keep up with her.

 

[sixdogs]

Make the property look like the surrounding terrain and make it look like the road has been there 100 years and is just the way the land formed. I do that by removing as little dirt as possible and just pushing the rest around with a bulldozer. That's why I create sweeping graded swales and can't recall the last "ditch". You need a way to establish grades because the eye is easily fooled and water can go the wrong way. When done, you should see little running water after a storm and that would be over a mowed grass surface that will drain completely with no ponding.

 

[ovrszd]

My wife is a heck of a worker. The Queen Bee is the ultimate worker bee too. When we are doing a task that both of us can jump into, she is usually driving the tractor. So she could take loads up to the dumpsite, less than 1000 yds away, and when she is working that out I could be doing prep.....There is lots to do, besides just shoveling raw dirt. I think it would be very efficient in comparison to working by myself. Probably more than twice the amount of work could be done. As it is, I am either moving the soil across the road or I am piling it behind me. I could just put most of it in the dump trailer...and while she was taking it up to dump, I could work and fill the downs slope....move debris off the area I was going to work. I don't think I could keep up with her.

Very well stated and in my opinion accurate.

 

[ovrszd]

Make the property look like the surrounding terrain and make it look like the road has been there 100 years and is just the way the land formed. I do that by removing as little dirt as possible and just pushing the rest around with a bulldozer. That's why I create sweeping graded swales and can't recall the last "ditch". You need a way to establish grades because the eye is easily fooled and water can go the wrong way. When done, you should see little running water after a storm and that would be over a mowed grass surface that will drain completely with no ponding.

I agree with this as well. To create that swale on the uphill side the roadbed must be elevated and/or the hillside removed. Both require moving a lot of dirt as the OP has discovered.

 

[WoodChuckDad]

On the other side of the swamp , going up a steep hill is a very old road. It crosses over onto another property and is over grown on their land and starting to be on mine. It was made by stacking rocks and filling with dirt. I would guess by hand and animals.




That's quite some work. But it looks natural and it's still there.

 

[airbiscuit]

On the other side of the swamp , going up a steep hill is a very old road. It crosses over onto another property and is over grown on their land and starting to be on mine. It was made by stacking rocks and filling with dirt. I would guess by hand and animals.


View attachment 490623

That's quite some work. But it looks natural and it's still there.

That would be cool to restore!

 

[WoodChuckDad]

That would be cool to restore!

I will probably remove the trees growing out of it and cut back the brush, but I really like the ferns and moss that are growing in it. I find it oddly charming and I like that I get to care for it for a few years.

 

[ovrszd]

I will probably remove the trees growing out of it and cut back the brush, but I really like the ferns and moss that are growing in it. I find it oddly charming and I like that I get to care for it for a few years.

In my area the government created a job source for men after WWII. It was called CCC. Can't remember what that stood for. They built and improved many roads. Constructed huge road culverts using granite rocks and cement. All gathered, mixed and formed by hand. The coolest are old bridge backwalls along creek banks. Stacked rocks and slabs. Still standing today!!!

 

[Wakey]

In my area the government created a job source for men after WWII. It was called CCC. Can't remember what that stood for. They built and improved many roads. Constructed huge road culverts using granite rocks and cement. All gathered, mixed and formed by hand. The coolest are old bridge backwalls along creek banks. Stacked rocks and slabs. Still standing today!!! <img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=490641"/>

Community construction corps? That is a great photo and as always, great thread WCD and the contributors as well.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Civilian conservation corp.

Civilian Conservation Corps - Wikipedia

They built the skyline drive and many roads.