followup question for concrete driveway over ditch

[rlee6]

I need to build a driveway that connects my parcel to a state highway over a ditch. I got excellent how-to's from you folks and am ready to start. I have a few more questions before I start:

1) A local HomeDepot has rental excavators. I will need one to move concrete pipe culverts and build dams. Will someone kindly tell me what dimensions I need to measure and give to the HD clerk so that they can get me the right equipment? I briefly explained the project and the rental clerk said a micro excavator will do the job. But I didn't tell him anything about the ditch depth or width. When completed, the 18" culverts will have about 2' dirt cover. Concrete driveway will be about 30' long.

2) I plan to get fill dirt for the driveway from the back of my parcel. I need to remove top soil and get fill sand without vegetation. Can I use the rental excavator for this job?

3) I plan to move the fill dirt on my 1/2 ton pickup over 200' distance. Realistic?

4) The driveway has to have 25' radius incoming and 15' outgoing curvature. How do I make curved forms?

Thanks.

 

[EddieWalker]

Not knowing any specifics, I'd be very concerned about how much weight the mini excavator can handle.

What does a 18 inch concrete pipe weigh?

If it's close, then you need to be aware of how far out you can swing the pipe, and if you can drive with it.

Eddie

 

[rlee6]

By the way, I called Florida DOT an hour ago. They said steel culvert is acceptable. The steel one will weigh about 250 pounds. Delivery truck will drop them in the ditch and I will have to lift/rotate it somewhat.

Thanks for the pointer. I can talk to the store clerk more intelligently now.

 

[450EXC]

</font><font color="blueclass=small">( 3) I plan to move the fill dirt on my 1/2 ton pickup over 200' distance. Realistic?
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Loading the pickup should be easy but dumping it will be tough. You could scrape it out with the excavater but unless your a good operator you will probably damage the box. Shoveling by hand dosnt sound like fun. It might not be that expensive to have a dump truck drop a couple loads.

I'd get the biggest excavator you can - those things are a blast.

I think you can build curved forms by screwing 1/4" plywood to stakes.

Larry

 

[rlee6]

Thank you much. Getting the biggest excavator I can get makes sense since I need to get fill dirt for other projects down the road. I will ask how much fill dirt costs in my area and compare. Thanks.

 

[EddieWalker]

Having a metal culvert makes things easier. You can move it around by hand if you need to. I put a 40 foot X 24 inch one in by myself and was able to move it. If you need to slide it very far, a 2x4 will give you enough advantage.

If you do a search in the Projects section under "creating an entrance" you'll see the one I'm talking about.

It has sloped ends, but no concrete. It's not required in my area, so I didn't do it.

Since you need to move the dirt 200 feet, I'd rethink renting an excavator and get a full sized Loader Backhoe. The front bucket will hold a yard of dirt which is about what you'll get in your pickup. Just load the front bucket and dump. Once you build it up, you can backdrag to shape and smooth it out.

Also driving over the dirt you move will help compact it better than just a pickup truck.

Eddie

 

[FL4400]

rlee, I use 1x4 yellow pine for my forms and just some 1x2 wooden stakes about 18 inches long if the dirt is compacted good. WHen you do the radius lay your driveway out straight were it meets the highway, go from the point were it hits the highway 15 feet away from the driveway and mark that point. Then go up from the highway 15 feet and put a stake, check this point back to were your drive is straight to make sure you are still 15 feet. When you get the stake 15' both ways from the highway and from your drive then hook a tape to the stake and have someone hold it in place. Stretch the tape out to 15 feet and get some marking paint and start where your drive is straight and start marking out the radius until you hit the highway this will give you the 15 foot radius. If you can get a rough measurement of the radius and build one long form to length and it will bend pretty easy to your radius as you stake it down. Then do the same thing for the other side with the larger radius.

 

[rlee6]

It's good to know that I can move the culvert around without a machine. I will look into a loader with bucket. Thanks for the tips. I will check the Creating An Entrance thread.

Regarding the form, I have more questions now. The 25' radius curved section is about 40' long. How do I make 40' long curved form for 6" thick concrete?

Thanks.

 

[FL4400]

Just use a 1"x6"x16' and splice them them together, butt two 16 footers together and use a piece of 1x6 that is 2 or 3 foot long and nail them together and then do the same thing with an 8 or 10 footer to get the 40 feet you need.

 

[rlee6]

Thank you for your help. Now I have another question. The concrete drive way has to slope down (toward my parcel) 6% for the first 10', then 2% for the next 20'. Please check if the following will work:

The 25' radius form is 40' long. According to my calculation, 23' are in the 6% slope and 17' are in the 2%. I will make a 23' long form, put it in place with 6% slope, and fix it with stakes. Then I will do the same with the remaining 17', and join it to the 23'. Will this work? Would you do it differently?

Thank you.