Step Two

This culvert project is going to be a multi step endeavor. First step was Darrick and I cleaning out the existing culvert. Nothing will be as difficult as that. Thank goodness or I would put a stop to this madness and figure something else out. Today we needed to get a 24 foot extension added to the existing culvert before the rains come and destroy the work we have done so far.

Step Two A;

First thing to do was to address the hole at the inlet side of the culvert. The tin horn opening is below soil level so if we just left it the culvert would fill up with dirt again. I will NOT do the job of cleaning that thing out  again. Bill had dug down and made this hole a month ago, I just needed to make it deeper and clean it out.

 When the dirt guy cut the ditch he found all kinds of concrete chunks. Some too big to move and small smaller ones.

 They are perfect for lining the hole.First thing I did was lay a solid piece on the bottom of the hole then stacked small pieces around the sides. Between the concrete pieces and the dirt I laid landscape fabric to hold the dirt back from filtering into the tin horn but water flows through it.

 After the rains move through we will pour some soupy concrete behind these pieces and it will serve its purpose. We will have a very nice storm drain.

 Step Two B:

First thing is for Bill and Darrick to use the transom and get our drop. Shane, the dirt guy, gave us a very good nine inch drop from drive to end of ditch. Now we just need to keep this. We were very surprised how well the water took away all the dirt we pulled out of the compacted culvert. There was just a little bit of dirt that needed to be smoothed out.

 Bill then went three miles down the road and picked up our new 24 foot tin horn. He only has a six foot bed, but then added this really cool thing we have that adds about three feet of support past the tail gate. Still, over half the tin horn is hanging off the back of the truck.

 Bill and I pulled it off the truck and rolled it into the ditch. We then had to pick it up and push it down to where it needed to be. It was a slow process but not too bad.

No, I am not relaxing. There was a hump of dirt that needed to be shaved off so the end of the new would line up with the end of the old. I  would push it to the side with my legs and Bill would shave the dirt.

 It's in! It still has a good drop so the water will flow out of it beautifully. I think we have decided to add another 24 foot section at the end to make mowing easier.  If we shaped and leveled at the end it would be too steep for the mower.

 At the joint we will be pouring concrete to seal the ends together. But, heavy rains with possible flooding will be here this afternoon so we can't pour concrete. We just used a Zip Tape for now. Hopefully, it will hold up until we can get this finished.

 Just in time; the rain clouds are coming our way.