3 Creative Solutions To Preventing Road Drainage Problems
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.