My driveway has steep edges, and is also placed oddly on a small hill. It’s kind of hard to see in the pictures, but the left side of the driveway drops downhill at least three feet. On the right side, there’s a culvert, and it’s also pretty steep.
I assume building it up with gravel is not a solution when the topography slopes down both sides of the driveway.
Does anyone have suggestions to make this safer and better, particular before winter when the driveway is covered in snow?
Open to both short term and permanent solutions. TIA!
by QueenJen15
21 Comments
I assume the issue is not being able to see it in winter and/or dangerous? If so, a guardrail, markers, or giant 6’ stones.
Sure you’ll get lots of options, but I would get some huge boulders and stabilize them 5-6 feet away from the high parts of the driveway then fill with rip rap.
If I was doing any physical labor, I’d install post. If I wanted impact but unable to dig, I would install reflective signs, small reflective panels along the trees and path to light the road when driving.
You’d be surprised how much rocks and boulders cost.
Banked corners so you can rail through there nascar style. Safest option.
Fill it in with more earth.
Another cheap option is to get some reflective posts and line those areas with them for more visibility.
Boulders/blocks as a makeshift retaining wall and fill with dirt or gravel, I’d go gravel
This is so well done, if you want any “better” be prepared to shell out big money
Snow markers from Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=snow+markers+for+driveway&adgrpid=160089978936&hvadid=692806119024&hvdev=m&hvexpln=68&hvlocphy=9190124&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=13207717137211975340–&hvqmt=e&hvrand=13207717137211975340&hvtargid=kwd-299490874039&hydadcr=12159_13429226&mcid=9b9ac75a86823c85b00bc4919797a858&tag=hydsma-20&ref=pd_sl_7phqy7l0k3_e_p68
Widen the driveway there and put in a retaining wall and rail.
Riprap
That looks like one cozy driveway to walk in the fall
Add earth and seed
You should backfill it with dirt. Don’t backfill it with gravel because you will have gravel rolling down the hill until the end of time. Ask me how I know.
As others have said, snow markers for the winter are very helpful.
Backfill with soil to get rid of drop on edge then use driveway markers to help mark edge for winter. Seed with grass in spring.
Thank you all for the suggestions so far! In the short term (before it snows!), it seems like those reflective markers are best.
We’ll look into the boulders and rip rap or dirt options to try and build it up a little more after that.
Would appreciate any other insights on using rocks vs dirt!
Infil with large rock, then smaller stone, then cover with dirt?
Put a string line between one end of the curve and the other adjacent to the culvert and make it wider, you’ll have to create a retaining wall for the culvert but it’ll make your driveway more a straight shot.
Large jagged rocks, then fill with smaller rip rap, then some compacted gravel near the edge
Swales or small stone piles/walls will fill in over time.
As some paver stones on the edge of the
Soil filled rip rap engineering solution free today plant your choice in the soil