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Posted: Sun Sep 29, 2013 1:44 pm
by ATK60
Hi all
I've had a search for this so apologies if it's covered elsewhere (I couldn't find anything)
We live on an unadopted lane and over the years the surface has been topped up (potholes and the like) with road scrapings.
Now it's been decided that we need drainage, as the lane is on an incline, before we make any more repairs as when it rains, the rainwater runs down the lane taking any loose material with it and then the cars do the rest of the damage in splashing the rest into the middle.
Talks are ongoing between the neighbours but the bottom line is that we need some sort of cost effective drainage putting in.
We will all have to put together to pay for this and, naturally, have a finite amount of funds to do so, even though we are happy to undertake some, if not all, of the physical graft ourselves.
Can anyone help/advise on this matter please?
many thanks in advance
Posted: Sun Sep 29, 2013 7:17 pm
by bobbi o
Difficult without pics.
Ideally the road should have a camber, with possibly a filter drain running down the verges and discharging into a soakaway
If this is not possible, you could construct some "speed bumps", placed at an angle diverting the water to the sides of the road and preventing it from running down the centre.
whatever you do, you must divert the water to the sides of the road.
Posted: Sun Sep 29, 2013 8:50 pm
by ATK60
Thanks for the reply bobbi.
I like the idea of the 'speed bumps' to divert rainwater.
The road drops off sharply at the side where we want the water to run off so I don't think a soak away is practical.
I hear what you are saying about the camber and that makes a lot of sense. Problem is, the rain starts to work itself a little gully, (least resistance and all that) and before long it's created a little 'stream' effect which just creates ever deeper ruts.
Posted: Sun Sep 29, 2013 10:48 pm
by GB_Groundworks
Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2013 9:36 am
by ATK60
Excellent pics GB. I take it this method works just fine for you?
Where did you source the long edging that's set into the lane?
The trough off the edge, can you give me a bit more detail as to why you did this rather than just letting the rainwater run off the side? I'm guessing it was to keep erosion to a minimum, but where does it end up once it's in the trough?
Also, what spacing did you use when setting the edgings in to the lane, how far apart and what was the reasoning?
Hope you don't mind the questions. 
Brilliant idea though
Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2013 11:30 am
by GB_Groundworks
They are standard 900mm long road kerbs
The gulley allows better drainage and makes it lot easier to shovel off the grit and stuff that will build up against the lip. You can either concrete a channel in front or lay kerbs flat against the upright kerb. Ill get a pic to show you what I mean.
The trough goes into the silt trap then was connecting into a land drain that drained into a river in this case, on our lane they just discharge into the ditch that runs along the lane
Spacing depends on how bad the water is on our hill it's bad they are where the water accumulates kind of put in ad hoc but every 500 yards say
You can vary the height of the upstanding depending on steepness or traffic
Ps where abouts in Oldham are you? We were in uppermill Thursday Friday and hopefully be back up there soon for slope remediation job
Edited By GB_Groundworks on 1380537339
Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2013 11:37 am
by ATK60
Have any of the edgings been compromised/broken by the traffic?
The Bin vehicles can get down our lane (just) and I can't help but wonder how long before we start to see chipped top edges.
What's your experience?
I understand what you mean about the trough (concrete or slab) I would imagine concrete would give a better solution.
Was the wood just used for shuttering and removed or did you leave it in situ?
Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2013 11:46 am
by ATK60
Ps where abouts in Oldham are you? We were in uppermill Thursday Friday and hopefully be back up there soon for slope remediation job
We are in Springhead, only a few miles from Uppermill.
Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2013 6:39 pm
by GB_Groundworks
Posted: Mon Sep 30, 2013 11:21 pm
by ATK60
That makes for a very tidy finish. Are they mortared down?
Had a read and answered my own question: On a bed of concrete. I take it those in the picture are what they call 'half battered' I know that refers to the 'slope' on the kerb but it's more likely to be how I'd feel after trying to shift one or two!
Have you used both types on your lane?
Posted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 7:57 am
by GB_Groundworks
Yeah both types as its evolved over the years even some less effective asphalt sleeping police
Posted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 11:03 am
by ATK60
So, in your view, which is the best of the two types pictured?
Personally I can see the merits in both but I think I prefer the latter. It looks the part and I can see it being effective.
If you were doing the 2nd type on our lane, say, what sort of cost per installation would we be looking at?
Posted: Tue Oct 01, 2013 1:44 pm
by GB_Groundworks
The later looks better and drives over better but only handles small run off its soon over whelmed the first handles a lot more water but you have to bump over it
Posted: Wed Oct 02, 2013 5:11 pm
by stephen gibson
The cheapest solution would be to employ a civil engineering consultant to assist you with getting the road adopted. Then all the cost of repairs and drainage will be your local highway authorities.
Posted: Wed Oct 02, 2013 5:46 pm
by ATK60
Its a nice idea Stephen but is it really that simple? The council won't even give us a grit bin!
