Have considered having the creek bed dug out, pouring concrete ‘buttress’ walls on each side and then pouring a thick concrete slab over the buttress walls to drive over but I don’t think it will support heavy equipment. Thanks for comments.
I’ve seen where folks have used retired train cars to span the gap but they’re too much for my budget. Thanks for comments.
Part of the problem is, over the last 20 years, the creek has moved a bit. It used to just flow across the drive after heavy rains. Now water runs and hits my driveway at the east end (bank) of the drive then doglegs west, with half the water turning south after about 30 ft and the rest of the water running down my drive 40-50’ before running south. I have an easement 30 ft wide X about 200 ft to the county road. The creek has another dogleg to the east just after my easement. That property owners has told me that I can have the area dredged to help with the flow.
That’s another reason why I am willing to use a 3ft culvert instead of a 2ft. I can keep a 3ft cleaned out better than a 2ft.
I don’t know what sort of materials I would need to make a bridge. Know nothing about the strength of concrete when it comes to spanning any distances. I agree the an open channel will flow better than a low water crossing with culverts.
I hate doing things twice myself, especially when there’s money involved. Those culverts aren’t cheap. I’m too old and out of shape to enjoy the exercise I’d get.
24”X20’ culvert cost $550.00ea
I can have a bridge built to span a 10-12 foot stream for around $3-4000. That's a few hours with an excavator, 4 waste blocks for abutments; a load of stone for rip rap; and three "skidder mats" to span the stream with. If you need to go higher than 2 feet it will cost a bit more; another $300 for blocks, Geotek or something else to use as a "deadman", and a bit more time for the excavator. You may also need a load or two of gravel. That is the route I would take based on the pictures you posted. Do that and be done with it.
looking at his pictures it appears that he is crossing at an angle. If so that is part of the problem.
Remember that at saturation the 3 foot culvert allows more water through than (2) 24" culverts. [1017 sq ft vs (2x 452 sq ft.)]
I’ve followed this dry creek bed about 5 miles. Above me there are 3 places where this creek & smaller creeks feeding into it cross the road. Each crossing has a low water concrete slab. The largest crossing is maybe 30 ft. The reason it’s so wide at my drive is because of it jogging west, east and then west again. I think just cleaning up the creek bed and taking the turns out will help tremendously.
I’d be very willing to have the work done for that amount of money. I figured 40 tons of rock and maybe 20 yds3 of concrete. The culvert pipe is $2600, for the two pipe. Do you do this kind of work or know someone in my area that does?
The question I need to ask is, how did you do it the last time to solve the issue?
Thanks, I guess I’m showing my age & ignorance…
