Rebuilding small stone road

[Hay Dude]

Nice work!

It's pretty much much what I go through here with my 1.25 mile private road. I try and keep it up and work on the sections that need repair before they get too rough. I've only had to do the whole road once in 40 years. It took 14 days and 2000 tons of material. I want to avoid that chore again if possible!

I'm not sure what material you're using but I find compacting the 2RC modified (.75" down to stone dust) wet works best.

I tried to get them to put in several culverts along the lower side to effectively carry off water, but they didn’t want to spend the money.

 

[bdhsfz6]

I tried to get them to put in several culverts along the lower side to effectively carry off water, but they didn’t want to spend the money.

Culverts were installed when the road was put it 50 years ago but many have silted up. It's tough to keep them clear without proper catch basins. I have drainage swales on the steep spots which help as long as a good crown is maintained.

 

[Smokeydog]

That’s a good customer you helped many times before.

Anything you can do to get the water off the road the better. Most of my 1/2 mile driveway is 300 year wagon trail so has worn over the years. Took me decades and over 600 tons to rebuild.

Road maintenance and durability is managing the fines. The trucking company I use has it’s own quarry and makes its own blends of base to carry weight. I have elevation and probably more rain to deal with. Last year 200 tons covered most of it. Had been 12 years before that with no gravel. Improving drainage and land plane makes a big difference with pot holes, ruts and upkeep. Down side, smoother driveway people go faster. Maybe get 20 years from this last batch?

 

[Hay Dude]

Its amazing adding layers of stone on top of probably 100-200 years of previous stone, and it just sinks into the ground lol

 

[bdhsfz6]

Its amazing adding layers of stone on top of probably 100-200 years of previous stone, and it just sinks into the ground lol

I'm sure some disappears into the ground but a lot gets ground to dust by tire traffic and either blows or washes away.

 

[Smokeydog]

Yes it doses sink. If I could do it all over putting fabric down first would have helped.

Wagon road they used head to chest size rocks to fill ruts. Use of scarifiers is a bust. Move as little gravel as necessary to maintain surface and compaction important.

Since you are at the property regularly and the owner appreciates low impact maintenance, maybe justify a land plane to maintain the new gravel?

 

[Hay Dude]

Yes it doses sink. If I could do it all over putting fabric down first would have helped.

Wagon road they used head to chest size rocks to fill ruts. Use of scarifiers is a bust. Move as little gravel as necessary to maintain surface and compaction important.

Since you are at the property regularly and the owner appreciates low impact maintenance, maybe justify a land plane to maintain the new gravel?

I offered the fabric, but 1200 feet was out of budget. Even the softer areas (about 600’) was more than they wanted to spenD.
Great minds think alike!

 

[pmsmechanic]

Years ago, 30 or more to be honest when we moved to our acreage there was a low spot that had water in it every time it rained or we irrigated. I probably hauled about 100 yards of pit run into that low spot. It was wet at the time and I'd level the pit run and then drive over it with the loaded truck pushing the rock into the ground. Once I had it packed and level I spread some road crush over the top. Every spring I would pull a harrow over the driveway to pull out all the small rock that eventually works it's way up. I now have this awesome driveway that needs very little maintenance. Last summer for the first time I added another layer of road crush.

 

[bdhsfz6]

The state is planning to repave the main highway near me this season. They always have left over millings they are looking to loose somewhere. I'll be out there with a sign showing where they can dump it! It won't be near enough to do the entire 1.25 mile private road but it'll be plenty for an apron where my gravel road meets the blacktop. That's one of the spots that gives me grief every spring.

 

[Hay Dude]

The state is planning to repave the main highway near me this season. They always have left over millings they are looking to loose somewhere. I'll be out there with a sign showing where they can dump it! It won't be near enough to do the entire 1.25 mile private road but it'll be plenty for an apron where my gravel road meets the blacktop. That's one of the spots that gives me grief every spring.

They are milling our 4 lane road, too. We are getting several truckloads later next week of free millings.