What is the best way to narrow my 700' gravel drive?

[Woodstock Walt]

what is the Railway blast you are talking about?

I'm guessing it's like 3-6"+ blasted ledge, same type of material used to make railroad beds since it locks tightly together and can support a ton of weight.

 

[Tony H]

I'm guessing it's like 3-6"+ blasted ledge, same type of material used to make railroad beds since it locks tightly together and can support a ton of weight.

Maybe whatever call Crusher Run in my neck of the woods. Combo of Stone and finer material. Drive over a fresh 8" of the stuff and it compacts and tightens up fast. Put a layer of textile down with this on top and you are good for many years
It won't push down into the soil.

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[Cycledude]

The drive is a year and a half old and is a little rough, it was supposed to be 6" deep but at this point is only 2-4" in many parts. It is currently non spec ABC (N rock around here), we had always planned to top it with something a little nicer post construction. All of the contruction traffic did a number on it and we are ready to fix it up and put a few more inches on it. It is about 2' wider on each side than i would prefer, a foot of that is 1-4" and a foot is up to an inch mixed in with the grass. I would like to narrow prior to adding a few inches. The drive a straight with good access on the sides for most of it, just a shallow ditch. What is the best tool(s) for the job? Maybe an angle broom? I have a tracked skid steer and can rent or borrow most attachments. I also have a Stihl Kombi head and have read good things about the rubber paddled sweeper attachment. Any input would be much appreciated.

Hopefully you will be posting some before and after pictures.
This is the first time I ever heard of someone wanting to make their driveway narrower, seems like everyone wishes it was wider.

 

[NC1]

Hopefully you will be posting some before and after pictures.
This is the first time I ever heard of someone wanting to make their driveway narrower, seems like everyone wishes it was wider.

Yep, I'll try and post some before and after pics if I try to narrow it! I'm pretty much convinced to leave it at its current width and just add to the middle. I played with using the bucket to pull up some of the gravel and that seems like a slow process.

 

[MossRoad]

what is the Railway blast you are talking about?

Ballast. The large crushed rock that the ties sit on.

 

[NC1]

Ballast. The large crushed rock that the ties sit on.

View attachment 732417

We call it Railway Ballast or Surge down here, most commonly used for temporary logging/construction entrances and sometimes base

 

[bcp]

Ballast:

Wilson 1 1/2" x 3/4" Railroad Ballast

Wilson 1½" x ¾" Railroad Ballast is a clean, 100% crushed granite. This Ballast is produced daily at Wilson Quarry to meet the American Railway Engineering Association (AREA) #4 Ballast Specifications as well as ASTM C-33 Size #4. This product has been used by the Railroad as Ballast Aggregate...

www.graniterock.com

Bruce

 

[MossRoad]

We call it Railway Ballast or Surge down here, most commonly used for temporary logging/construction entrances and sometimes base

I've got about 1/4 mile of that on my property. Old abandoned railroad grade. 1/2 of it is double track wide. Even that, after 20 years, became tree choked. Mother nature reclaims everything in time.

 

[oregonrr]

Curious how wide your driveway is. Here in Oregon, code for a new driveway is 12' wide. Any narrower, and our local volunteer fire department is not happy.

 

[redobbin]

I maintain my driveway (260’) and two roads (.3 miles) and use a six way back blade angled and pitched to pull the edges back in and roll towards center. From center of the drive to edges you should have 2 in in 10 feet of slope to each side for water handling. Move the edges and rehab the base to center and the back drag with the blade turned all the way around from the center working to the outside edge. The roll or drive over the entire surface to compact. I normally only have to do the edges and clean the ditches about every 3rd or 4th year.
Good luck and have fun.