Dirt Driveway - Looking for assistance with ruts

[lootiejay]

So one of the main reasons I want a tractor is so I do not have to deal with constantly begging people or paying people to fix issues with my driveway.

I have a 350 - 400 foot driveway that was originally cut lower than the surrounding area. During the process of building the home, the individual who put in the foundation had some left over clay and spread it down the driveway.
This resulted in a soupy mess. However, I had some folks come in and they added a ditch to one side to catch the water runoff during the rain and the sloped the problem area to that side.

The issue I am now having is that along the right hand side of the driveway it ruts really bad for about 150 feet where there is still a pocket of clay. A neighbor who had a similar issues said all i needed to do was fill in the ruts and then smooth out the driveway. Then add some geotextile fabric to the driveway and put about 3 to 4 inches of crusher run on top and I will be fine as long as I occasionally grade it. It has worked for him, but each person is different.

Looking at the included pictures does this seem like a viable solution.

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[dsgsr]

That water just setting there is the problem. When the water runs off the road surface to the ditch, it (the water) needs to drain away. If not, whatever remains will stay in the road surface, (kinda like a backed up sewer) the water has no place to go. More ditching is what is needed.


David

 

[Liquidsilver]

I'm not a pro, but it looks like the previous post is exactly right. If there's pooling near the road, it will keep sinking. Perhaps a tin whistle drainpipe to the downhill side and I'd buy quite a bit of gravel.

 

[747driver]

X3 . First thing is to get that water away from the edge of the road. If allowed to set there it will always be a wet area resulting in a mud bog. You need to make a ditch to get that water to flow to a runoff area such as a creek or some other retention area. Does the road have a crown in the middle or just slopes to one side. If it has a crown then make another ditch on the other side to get the water to flow. You will be wasting the stone and money if you don't first off get that water away from the road.

 

[lootiejay]

That water just setting there is the problem. When the water runs off the road surface to the ditch, it (the water) needs to drain away. If not, whatever remains will stay in the road surface, (kinda like a backed up sewer) the water has no place to go. More ditching is what is needed.


David

The problem is I can not take anymore trees down from the right side to add a ditch to the other side of the road.
Would it be a better idea to add more dirt to that side so that the water rolls to the left of the road? I mean, I suppose that would be my only option at this point.

What is a tin whistle drainpipe?

 

[lootiejay]

X3 . First thing is to get that water away from the edge of the road. If allowed to set there it will always be a wet area resulting in a mud bog. You need to make a ditch to get that water to flow to a runoff area such as a creek or some other retention area. Does the road have a crown in the middle or just slopes to one side. If it has a crown then make another ditch on the other side to get the water to flow. You will be wasting the stone and money if you don't first off get that water away from the road.

This happened after a pretty bad span of rain we had. in 24 hours we got 2 full inches. I live in NC and the soil is generally very sandy and the water is soaked up pretty quickly. Unfortunately this area is shown is where that clay was mixed in, and water literally just pools there. There is no crown in the road on the right side because my property line ends there. I am somewhat or should I say completely new to grading and excavation so this is all a bit rough for me to understand but any words of council are greatly appreciated.

 

[poncho62]

Gravel....gravel.....and more gravel

 

[RNeumann]

The fabric is the key- your neighbor is correct. 3-4” of imported material seems a bit light. I’d be in the 4-6” range.

 

[lootiejay]

So I would need to box blade the driveway and get it flat as possible again , and then Gravel Gravel Gravel?

 

[Oldoak]

Gravel....gravel.....and more gravel

That was my first thought too! Starting with a heavy bed of course gravel topped off with smaller crushed stone. Keep adding more where ever ruts appear. I had a similar problem and it took a couple of years and tons and tons of crushed stone to solve the problem but now I have a very firm road bed.