Suggestions for narrowing driveway?

[Jaybr]

Moved into a new place about 6 months ago, with a gravel driveway that I estimate about 1000' long. The builder cut the driveway and cleared close to 50' all the way to the house, much wider than I wanted but needed room for underground utilities.

Problem is the driveway is a nice 12' in some places, and closer to 20' in others. I think builder just had the gravel tailgated through the area he cleared and graded, but I don't think a roadbed was ever cut in. The gravel has spread in several areas due to traffic, slope, etc. There is larger stone underneath the top layer, but not sure how much.

I'd like to get an even 12' all the way up, need some suggestions as to how to pull the wide areas back in. I think I can use my box blade in some spots, but there is a hill on the driveway that is a little steep for me to run horizontal, at least for my comfort.

I just purchased a grademaster, which looks like it will do a great job keeping it smooth, just need to get it even width.

 

[BTDT]

Welcome to TBN. That's a pretty long drive. Any pics? Maybe start by getting some flags or stakes and marking out your drive the width you want it. Then, you take the BB and start dragging material back to center, working between your markers. When that's done, go to one end and start smoothing it up.

I guess if you had the money, you could just mark your path, and have additional loads of gravel hauled in, then smooth between markers. Good luck.

 

[thatguy]

With a driveway that long i would think you would want at least a couple pull offs for opposing traffic to pass.. Never know when you will meet the UPS man coming up the drive as you are leaving, and that would be a long way to back up LOL

brian

 

[Egon]

For a thousand feet think about hiring a grader with operator. That will be the quickest and should give you the best job.

Graders can reach way out with the blade to retrieve the granular material and will definitely give you a smoother finished road surface.

 

[mjarrels]

Are you sure the previous owner didn't have an airplane? Sounds like you could rent hangar space.

mark

 

[Jaybr]

No airplanes, I bought the property (37 acres) from the builder and he built the house for me.

This morning I went out and started playing (oops, working) with the Grademaster and found a technique that worked pretty well.

I tilted the blade down on the right side and made multiple passes where I wanted to narrow. Each pass I would move in a little from the previous, thus moving the gravel more toward center. Once I got the drive narrowed enough, I flattened the Grademaster back out and made one pass backwards using the centerline of the driveway each way instead of the edge. This gave me a pretty even 12' of rock, then I went back over in the proper direction and it's nice and smooth with a slight crown.

There is one section where there is a T in the driveway where another drive goes off to the builders other lot, that area still needs work.