What You Need to Know About Culvert Pavement Repair

Culverts are trenches or sewer conduits that cross beneath paved groundwork, such as streets, sidewalks, parking lots, and railroads. They are designed to divert water runoff below paved surfaces, and transport it to a local reservoir or basin. In addition to water runoff diversion and architectural land planning, culverts serve the important purpose of providing bridge-like support for vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

Because culverts serve an array of important purposes, both functionally and environmentally, it is important to keep them in optimal condition. As a commercial property owner, it is encouraged to have culvert damage repaired in a timely manner as to avoid larger, more invasive and expensive pavement work down the line.

Continue reading to learn more about culvert pavement repair, as well as, how to obtain a free bid for commercial pavement work near you.

Indianapolis Commercial Paving 317-549-1833
Indianapolis Commercial Paving 317-549-1833

Culvert Pavement Repair

Frequency and intensity of both car and foot traffic, combined with the overall condition and installation of pavement, will determine how soon culvert repair should be addressed. These types of wear and tear can weaken the pavement above a culvert, making it even more important to implement comprehensive repairs to avoid additional or exponential damage; and culvert damage left unaddressed can lead to larger, costly, and more time-consuming repair work. Be sure to choose a licensed and experienced Indianapolis asphalt and concrete repair company for the most accurate and reliable culvert construction and pavement repair services.

The Process of Repairing Culvert Damage

To begin a culvert repair job, certified pavement contractors will use saw to cut the apron approach area, and then peel away the old asphalt using a skid steer. Once the asphalt and removed and the gravel is pushed to the side, the culvert pipe will most likely be exposed. If it is damaged, it will need to be replaced. If the old asphalt is raised, lifted, or bumpy, then the pipe will most likely be damaged as well and need replaced. As a side note, the old asphalt and culvert pipe can be recycled and reused!   

At this point, the base is ready to be set. Most contractors use a bed of crushed stone. Next, the culvert is positioned on top of the crushed stone, and the sides are packed in with this crushed material as well. This guarantees proper placement. When culverts are installed in dirt or poor-quality gravel-like material, it can cause future complications and needed repairs.

Once the stone bed is set and the culvert is situated and packed in, flares are installed to open up the ends of the piping. These flares permit paving contractors to pack-in the gravel and asphalt by hand, in order to taper it to the ditch line properly. They also promote better durability against weed over-growth and storm wash-outs.

When the pipe is replaced and the culvert is set up, the rest of the pavement project can continue as normal. The stone base and layers of asphalt can be applied as usual. When this kind of pavement repair job is done incorrectly, heaving and large bumps will appear.  If there were complications with the initial culvert construction, the new pavement repair job should not be affected in any way, so long as the company uses the proper equipment, tools, and procedures.

Who to Trust for Commercial Culvert Repair in Indiana

Call ACI Asphalt and Concrete at 317-549-1833 for culvert paving repair and installation services in Indianapolis, Indiana Our licensed and qualified paving contractors provide several Indianapolis asphalt and concrete paving services, including pavement repair, sealcoating, road work, commercial paving, industrial paving, winter cold patching, and more. We are the industry veterans to trust for skilled craftsmanship and competitive prices! Request a free quote, today.