Clamshell driveway

   / Clamshell driveway #1  

toppop52

Super Star Member
Joined
Oct 19, 2011
Messages
10,619
Location
Eastern Shore of Maryland
Tractor
Massey Ferguson 1723, Cub Cadet 1864
I'm about to do a clam shell driveway at my new house, there is an old gravel base that's over 60 years old there so it's a firm foundation. I've looked at others and I like the white look and the firm feel for driving and walking on vs the loose feel a lot of gravel drives, including my old one had. My supplier is very reputable and has very clean smell free shells that he spreads and crushes to my design and liking for $550 a tandem load. Any experiences would be appreciated.:thumbsup:
 
   / Clamshell driveway #3  
Clam shells were used in the New Orleans area for all unpaved driveways and parking lots for over 100 years until dredging was halted in Lake Ponchartrain. They packed much better than the limestone rocks which now replace them.

I have not found them to be as dusty as river rock or limestone. In the 1950s the parish maintained unpaved streets were covered with river rock and the private ones with clam shells. I well remember the oil trucks spreading used oil on the river rock streets to keep the dust down. None was needed on the shell streets.

I wish we were still able to get clam shells here because I would love to use them on the driveway to my barn. They would be much better than the limestone and crushed asphalt that I now have.
 
   / Clamshell driveway #4  
I wish we were still able to get clam shells here because I would love to use them on the driveway to my barn. They would be much better than the limestone and crushed asphalt that I now have.

I miss those clam shell roads and drives too . Best stuff for a good country road . I remember that many public and private parking lots also had them . Had to be careful doin ' teacher parking lot duty at the school I taught . The sun would reflect off the white shells so intensely you had to wear sun screen and glasses .
 
   / Clamshell driveway #5  
Up at the family cabin, we have a "clam shell" drive just from dumping all the steamer clam shells there for over 45 years. Many buckets a year.
 
   / Clamshell driveway
  • Thread Starter
#7  
Cool, scheduled to get ours this weekend.:thumbsup:
 
   / Clamshell driveway
  • Thread Starter
#8  
My guy got sick and so just started yesterday, but wow what a great job he's doing! He leveled it and packed it and did a little water management leveling for me elsewhere at no charge. He as but about 1.5 loads in place and it sure beat going out to a muddy mess this morning in the rain!:thumbsup:
 
   / Clamshell driveway #9  
Make sure you take pictures! :thumbsup:
 

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