Dirt work & land management
Driveway & Culvert Installation in Polk County and the Lake Livingston Area
Clearing and grading driveway routes, laying gravel and installing culverts so you can get in and out of your property in any weather.
A driveway that drains and lasts
On rural and lakeside property, the driveway is often the first thing that needs to be built and the first thing to fail when water is ignored. Ruts, washouts and a low spot that turns to mud after every storm usually come down to how the route was prepared and where the water goes.
Onalaska Builders builds driveways and access roads with our own crews, from clearing the route to grading, gravel and culverts. If you would rather have a poured drive, see our concrete flatwork.
This work includes:
- Clearing and grading driveway and access-road routes
- Laying gravel driveways
- Installing drainage culverts
- Construction access for new building sites
The process
How a gravel driveway is built
A driveway that holds up is mostly about what happens before the gravel goes down:
- Clearing the route. Trees, stumps and brush come out along the path of the drive.
- Grading. The route is shaped so it sheds water to the sides instead of channeling it down the middle.
- Handling water crossings. Where the drive crosses a ditch or low area, a culvert lets water pass underneath.
- Laying gravel. Gravel is spread over the prepared base to give a firm, drivable surface.
On a new build, the driveway often goes in early so trucks and equipment can reach the site. Planning it together with the rest of the site work avoids tearing it up later.
Culverts
When does a driveway need a culvert?
A culvert is a pipe laid under the driveway so water can keep flowing along a ditch or low spot instead of washing over, or through, the drive. You likely need one if:
- Your driveway crosses a roadside ditch to reach the road.
- The route crosses a low area or natural drainage path on your property.
- Water currently runs across the drive after rain and leaves ruts or washouts.
Where a driveway meets a public road, the county or the state may have its own requirements for the connection and the culvert. It is worth checking what applies to your property before the work is scheduled.
Fixing an existing drive
Common driveway problems we can address
- Washouts and ruts where water runs down or across the drive.
- Soft, muddy sections that trucks sink into after rain.
- A blocked or undersized crossing where water backs up at the ditch.
- A drive that sheds water toward the house or garage. See site drainage.
- Worn-out gravel that has thinned or scattered over time.
The fix may be regrading, a culvert, fresh gravel or a combination. Tell us what you are seeing and we will talk it through.
Lake and timber country
Driveways around Polk County and Lake Livingston
Many properties in Polk, San Jacinto, Trinity and Walker counties sit well back from the road on wooded or low-lying ground, which makes a long, well-drained drive essential. Heavy rain can turn a poorly prepared route into mud quickly, so drainage is the first thing to plan.
We build driveways and install culverts within about 35 miles of Onalaska, including Livingston, Point Blank, Coldspring, Shepherd, Groveton, Trinity, Huntsville, Cleveland and Willis. See our full service area.
More dirt work & land management services
Related services
Questions
Driveways & Culverts questions
Do I need a culvert for my driveway?
You likely do if the driveway crosses a roadside ditch, a low area or a natural drainage path, or if water currently runs across the drive and leaves ruts. The culvert lets water pass under the drive instead of over it.
Do I need approval to put a culvert at the road?
Where a driveway connects to a public road, the county or the state may have requirements for the connection and the culvert. Check what applies to your property before the work is scheduled.
Do you pour concrete driveways too?
Yes. Poured driveways are covered on our concrete flatwork page. This page covers driveway routes, grading, gravel drives and culverts.
How do I get an estimate for a driveway?
Call (806) 480-0328 or send the estimate form with the town or ZIP code, the rough length of the drive, whether it crosses a ditch and whether it is a new drive or a repair.
Get started
Need a better way in?
Tell us where the property is, how long the drive is and what problems you are seeing. Send the form or give us a call.