3 Creative Solutions To Preventing Road Drainage Problems

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Harry's Home Improvement Blog

Hello, my name is Harry and this is my home improvement blog. Welcome! On this blog, I will be discussing many different home improvement and construction topics. I should explain that I am not a professional contractor. However, I have just come to the end of a home renovation project which took over 2 years to complete. During that time, I worked with dozens of different contractors in order to get my house into shape. I have spent hours working alongside plumbers, electricians, surveyors and roofing specialist. I learnt so much about their different trades that I decided to start this blog.

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3 Creative Solutions To Preventing Road Drainage Problems

23 March 2022
 Categories: Construction & Contractors, Blog


A proper road drainage system is a critical part of the road's infrastructure. Road safety issues, erosion, reduced bearing capacity and frost heave can cause cracking and unevenness, and compromised road durability are crucial issues that may arise from a flawed road drainage system. Therefore, if you oversee road maintenance in your area, it will help to find ways to maintain the road infrastructure by ensuring quality drainage. You can implement solutions that prevent drainage issues like cracking, erosion, road unevenness, faulty road drainage structures and even collapse. Here are a few approaches to preventing road drainage issues.

Clean Ditches And Subdrains Regularly

Ditches tend to be filled with soil and vegetation over time. Eventually, the ditches' level rises, raising the groundwater table. That means the moisture content on the road will also increase over time as it continues raining. Frost action and other water-related issues will emerge, affecting the road's structural integrity. To avoid such, ensure the subdrains and ditches are cleaned regularly. This is particularly crucial in fine subgrade soils that tend to be unstable. The soils around the ditches can easily flow to the bottom and raise their level. Clearing the ditches and subdrains once or so every year or as they fill up to a certain level can help solve the problem. It's also crucial to haul away any materials cleaned from the subdrains and ditches to keep them from flowing back in and causing drainage issues.

Install (And Maintain) The Culverts Properly

Culverts are essential road drainage structures. They must be installed correctly to prevent issues like blockages and flooding down the line. Therefore, ensure the sizing is done correctly and that the culverts aren't installed too high or too low. In addition, pay careful attention to the stream velocity during installation, especially for the main road culverts. To prevent deposits of sand, gravel, and other materials, the culverts' stream velocity needs to be higher than the upstream velocity.

Like ditches and subdrains, all kinds of debris and material may accumulate inside your culverts. Therefore, create a maintenance routine that entails inspecting the culverts regularly and clearing any accumulated materials to prevent blockages.

Maintain The Road Surface

The road surface also plays a critical role in enhancing drainage. Potholes, cracks and other damage on the road can cause drainage issues down the line. Therefore, ensure the surface is inspected regularly for potholes, cracks and other damage. Such issues can be fixed by patching and sealing.

For more information on civil works like drainage problems, contact a professional near you.