Fired Road contractor. Build it myself?

[Citydude]

In looking at the pictures, I'd use the excavator that's available. It would cut in that road, ditch and back slope the high side at the same time. To me, that's a no brainer.

 

[teg]

...To me, that's a no brainer.

I'm with you... seems some are trying to build an Interstate Highway. It doesn't look like a ton of acreage to the ridge... thus not much acreage (water basin) to deal with.

Rough in the road to just dirt and watch the next couple rain storms (if we get any) to see how much water you are dealing with. No need to build an interstate highway for just a driveway, in my opinion.

 

[Citydude]

Either way, highway or one tracked trail, the excavator would be my choice.

 

[EddieWalker]

I'm with you... seems some are trying to build an Interstate Highway. It doesn't look like a ton of acreage to the ridge... thus not much acreage (water basin) to deal with.

Rough in the road to just dirt and watch the next couple rain storms (if we get any) to see how much water you are dealing with. No need to build an interstate highway for just a driveway, in my opinion.

Why not build it the best way possible?

 

[MF283]

If you're going to build a house, i'd put larger rock in as a base, all the equipment, trucks, etc are going to compact it, i wouldn't finish grade until the house construction was done.
With the base in, you caould get an idea throughout the house construction on what areas may need improving.

Ronnie

 

[teg]

Why not build it the best way possible?

Lack of money or time. The size ditches that have been suggested is extra maintenance down the road. Don't know what the OP has for plans for the field but larger ditches = smaller fields for animals or crop production. Just my opinion...

 

[sixdogs]

You'll still spend the same amount of money and time. One way will do it up front while the other way will do it in dribs and drabs over the next ten years. In the end, it will cost the same and have the same amount of hours.

 

[Ford850]

I have been building/maintaining my 1/4 mile road since 1982.
I have used, at different times, 3 different rear blades, a box blade, and a landscape rake.

Taking care of the driveway did not become easy, until I built a landplane.

IMHO, you will not know exactly where the culverts are required, for a year or more.
Plan on installing them later.

If I were to build that road (my tractor is about the size of yours), I would shape the road with the landplane.
This might take 3 hours, it might take a day.

Then, I would roll the road.

My roller is a small DIY,, 1/2" thick ductile iron pipe full of concrete,,, it is perfect, for me.

Once I got the dirt base VERY stable, I would add 6 inches of what we call pug,, or mill run.
This is what the state (Virginia) uses around Roanoke as a base under new asphalt roads.

If the driver tailgates the material properly, you can then roll the material.
Next, shape the road again with the landplane.

Roll the road again,, and enjoy.

I lived in Charles City for a while, and built a lot of road in similar soil conditions.
If you use crusher run, you will need a large stone base, to stabilize the road.
Pug will seal the soil away from the water,,, without the pug, the road can get spongy from rain.

My road is closer to concrete than gravel,, the pug REALLY packs tight.

If you spend less than $2,000 for a landplane, it is too light.
If you want to build a landplane, there is a thread on how I built the one in the pics,,,

Thought I'd bump this reply from CADplans since he lives close to the OP, and shows examples of his 1/4 mile drive along similar sweeping hillsides but doesn't appear to have any large ditches. He say's he's maintained this for nearly 35 years so his experience should be weighted more than some of ours.

 

[Egon]

I respect your opinion. Your points are accurate. The end result will be a driveway that experiences yearly floods, requires maintenance and money. If that's the goal, then buy a rear blade and scratch around.

I'm anxious to see the end result of whatever the OP decides.

It's all in the procedures used and how well the equipment is handled. I've confidence in the OP.

There are some pretty old roads around the World that have been built with only manpower and hand tools. Think there is a very large Hydro Dam in China that saw much Dirt Work done by manpower and baskets.

Take a look at the Coral Castle. All built by one man and the magical machines he made himself. Some claim he had access to levitation devices but is very doubtful.

 

[ovrszd]

Why not build it the best way possible?

After all it's just going to be a road you'll use every single day at least twice.