How would you fix this driveway problem?

[lhfarm]

A storm came through and blow over a large tree that stood at the edge of our hillside gravel drive. The good news is that it fell away from the dirve, the bad news is that it has torn a hunk out of the road.

I don't know is I can totally remove the stump. As you can see, the drive is carved into the hill and the tree is large. I'm thinking of cutting the stump level with or slightly below grade and felling in the hole.

Other suggestions?

 

[Dusty]

I wouldn't dig out the stump, but cover it over. The roots will hold the material as they have done in the past. If you dig it out, you will disturb too much of the driveway and have greater problems down the road. (pun intended). By the time that stump rots away, and causes problems for you, you will be old and grey. Even then, it will just require some additional gravel to be placed.
Dusty

 

[Duke4AZ]

Call the highway department or someone in road construction in your area and get their recommenation. I could tell you how it is done in the mountains where errosion is pretty common on these under cut roads, but while the techniques are probably the same, the soil and road materials to a specific area are going to be different and need to be taken into account.

Again, talk to someone experienced in road construction and repair in your area.

 

[randy41]

that looks like a couple of roads i have to drive my schoolbus on. the highway dept would do nothing about that. the road looks passable.

 

[RayH]

I see two options.
Move the stump or move the road.
Option 1) Dig the stump out and fill in the hole.
Option 2) cut the bank back a little and move the road over.
The easiest thing would probably be to cut the bank back a foot or two. With the dirt you remove from the bank, fill in around the stump so the ground is stable and regravel the area.

 

[Egon]

Push the tree away and tear out what part of the roots that come with it. Dispose of tree as you see fit. Fill hole with gravel and maintain as per normal.

 

[lhfarm]

I wouldn't dig out the stump, but cover it over. The roots will hold the material as they have done in the past. If you dig it out, you will disturb too much of the driveway and have greater problems down the road. (pun intended). By the time that stump rots away, and causes problems for you, you will be old and grey. Even then, it will just require some additional gravel to be placed.
Dusty

I'm already old and grey! The road is passable for now, but I'd feel better if it is cleaned up. I need to dress it with gravel and it would be nice to have that hole fixed before hand.

There is a lot of tree above the road. I think to cut it will at least cost me a chain. There is still a lot of dirt around the roots. I'm not going to dig it out, but I may try cutting part way through the tree (large V), then use the tractor to gently push the stump over down the hill. If I could move it 6 inches, that might do the job.

Thanks for the advice and I'll post my progress.

 

[scesnick]

I would also cut the bank away. From the looks of the first picture i think i would cut down the next tree also. That looks like a broken mirror waiting to happen.

 

[Raddad]

Move the house closer to the paved road?

 

[wilkesland]

I vote for Egon's suggestion.