4 Components that Make Up Proper Drainage on Municipal Roads

The local government should ensure that the local roads are safe to use in all weather conditions. They use the taxes collected to build roads and drainage structures to keep them secure during the wet and snow seasons. Civil work is the process of creating, repairing and maintaining these structures. Here are the steps professionals follow when improving the road network in a town. 

Creating the Top Layer of the Road

The pavement is the top layer of the road. It is part of the infrastructure most road users know. One of the main functions of the pavement is to protect the layers beneath it from the inner layers of the pavement. Civil work experts achieve this by creating an impermeable and crack-free top layer. They also make a cross-fall design, leading water from melting ice and snow off the road and preventing water logging. The experts design structures like the cross fall while considering how sudden changes to the road design could mean for road safety. 

Designing Culverts for the Main Road

Culverts are an excellent addition when you want to pass water under the road. You encounter height and depth dimensions that distinguish between a culvert and a bridge. Civil works experts understand the difference between the two and ensure they install the infrastructure. They can use plastic, concrete or steel to create them. Access road culverts are another drainage structure that civil engineers typically design. 

Digging Ditches on the Side of the Road

The second component of the drainage system is for the side of the road. Side ditches are vital on roads with a flat surface, but roads with embankments might not need them. Civil works experts understand the ideal gradient when creating side ditches to achieve maximum drainage. The experts also design specialties like rainwater ditches to help manage drainage in places to receive high precipitation. They can combine these with outlet ditches to efficiently guide water from the road to the side and eventually off the road. 

Putting Vertical Drainage in Place

Civil works experts also install vertical drainage structures to enhance water movement from the road. These include trench drains and inner and outer slope drainage, among others. The experts assess the road to determine the ideal additions.

These are a few components that a civil works company can install to heighten the safety and efficiency of the roads. Consult with a trusted and reliable company close to you to strategise and implement road safety infrastructure. For more information on civil works, contact a professional near you.