Why is drainage ditch and culvert maintenance so important - missing culverts and blocked culverts will cause water to build up and compromise the roadway, even was trhe road away. Drainage ditches and culverts too close to the roadpavement, causes damage and erosion to road edges, which can compromise the road.
- Check driveways and look for culverts that are full of debris and have hidden the culverts.
- Downhill sloped driveways will need to have a culvert to eliminate water from flowing onto the paved road. Culverts should be approximately 1-2 feet back from the paved road.
- Drainage ditches run along both sides of the paved road. Ditches should be a minimum of 1 foot away from the paved road side.
- The entire length of the drainage ditch should be free of any debris (branches, slash, large rocks, etc.)
- Drainage ditches leading to culverts that run under the paved roadway need to be diverted to flow into the ditch leading to the culvert approximately 2-3 feet ahead or below the road culvert.
Driveway culverts, drainage ditches between culverts, drainage ditches along the side of paved roads are the responsibility of the landowner and are maintained by the landowner. More detailed information can be found on the APLO website.
