Culverts

[Awlknottedup]

Anyone familiar with putting road culverts? I plan to replace a couple that are not installed correctly (outlet higher than inlet) and want to build another low water crossing.

Any comment, suggestions, and links welcome.

 

[chevytaHOE5674]

Probable installed a couple thousand of them over the years. I generally use the "Hasty method" to figure out what the minimum size culvert is, then if possible go a little larger. Culverts can be too small but never too large. Make sure you put plenty of fill over top, as not enough can cause damage to the culvert with heavy loads. Also if they are permanent installations I like to incorporate Geotextile fabric and rock on the inlet and outlet sides of the culvert to stabilize the banks.

 

[mike delaney]

I sent you a e-mail Mike

 

[old]

I have installed many of them or been on the crew doing it. The inlet has to be lower then the out let which you know. Also figure if you need a 2 foot one then go with at least a 3 footer. On the inlet end you need so big rock etc to protect the dirt so it does not wash out in and around the culvert

 

[edward will]

old
why does the outlet have to be higher than outlet. I would never install that way. Explain. Ed Will

 

[old]

That should read the inlet should be higher then the outlet .. Not the other way around. Or the outlet lower then the inlet.

 

[old]

Looks like we both did a typo you say outlet to outlet and I said it back wards as for which end should be lower

 

[Dave Sherburne NY]

Must be the outlet should be higher than the inlet. The one in front of my house on a state Highway designed by a state engineer is like that and it's not possible the state could be wrong. Does make a nice mosquito breeding pool.

 

[Zachary Hoyt]

We put in an 8" plastic culvert at the lower end of our main pond a couple of years ago. When we get a real lot of rain the water in the stream overflows into the pond and then the pond overflows into a smaller pond but once the crest passes the main pond drops back into its levek in a day instead of a week like it used to be. We don't have to be able to drive through over it every day, or we would have to do some more major work. I agree that the outlet should be lower than the inlet, that keeps the culvert clear since anything that washes in will wash out again.
Zach

 

[Anonymous-0]

From what I hear here it is too complicated for this committee, just forget about it!

 

[old]

All the ones we did when I worked doing state jobs the outlet was just a little lower then the inlet so as not to pool water and drain better which also keep then from building up sediment in them

 

[Anonymous-0]

I don't know where you're located, but if you are in Pa. you probaly need a permit to install a pipe under a road and they will tell you what size and how deep. I think it is real bad having to get permits for anything you do.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Around here the minimum is 12in ribbed , smooth inside plastic culvert pipe.

 

[dpendzic]

12 inch is generally the smallest you should go with just for rocks, branches and leaves not clogging the inlet.
Most culvert pipes are rated for highway truck loads with 12 inches of cover over the pipe
the more pitch, (inlet higher than outlet) will help to keep it clean of debris--usually 2% pitch is the minimum

 

[JML755]

Concerning permits, here in Michigan many of our "creeks" are Country drains that are under the jurisdiction of the County Drain Commission. I had to get a permit to put a culvert in a drainage ditch. They ok'ed the design and I bought the culvert at the county discount. If you cross a "regulated" creek, you might be in for problems if they find out and it's not to their standards.

 

[GordoSD]

In order to build on my farm, I had to get approval for an "access" from the gravel road to my land. The COunty zoning head looked at my place and "deemed that I needed a culvert. I told him that the ditch was dead level. He insisted that the railroad to the north and the creek to the south would have a south flow. No matter that if water did back up from no culvert it would only "flood" my land.
So I installed a 30 inch concrete flared end culvert, a landscaping beauty.
Guess what? in 12 years, and some record setting rains and floods, not one drop of water has passed through it. I lays in the ditch for a few days or a week and then it's gone.

 

[JML755]

(quoted from post at 21:54:47 03/24/12) In order to build on my farm, I had to get approval for an "access" from the gravel road to my land. The COunty zoning head looked at my place and "deemed that I needed a culvert. I told him that the ditch was dead level. He insisted that the railroad to the north and the creek to the south would have a south flow. No matter that if water did back up from no culvert it would only "flood" my land.
So I installed a 30 inch concrete flared end culvert, a landscaping beauty.
Guess what? in 12 years, and some record setting rains and floods, not one drop of water has passed through it. I lays in the ditch for a few days or a week and then it's gone.

Sounds about right for govt employees. At the road in front of my property, there appeared what used to be a ditch right where the the old owners used to enter it but had mostly filled in. My truck just dropped down a little (maybe 6") crossing onto the land from the road. I filled it in completely when I put my driveway in. Water flows from the driveway in both directions into a ditch on either side because the land (i.e. d/w) is at the top of a hill. Neighbor complained that I didn't have a culvert under my driveway. County guy came out when I wasn't there. My "good" neighbor explained that if I put in a culvert, the water would sit in it because it would be lower than the natural ditch contour on either side of the d/w. Luckily the county guy reluctantly agreed and I didn't need to put in a culvert. Crazy neighbor next door was probably p.o.ed but common sense ruled the day.