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

[NC1]

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.

Its about 15' at the moment. W

 

[Woodstock Walt]

Just a thought, but it really looks like your driveway could benefit from some additional gravel. Even if you raked in 3' of it to narrow it up, it still looks rather thin without much of a base beneath it. Don't mean to critique your driveway, it just looks very similar to the way mine used to.

I think you'd find that 4-6" of addition gravel, especially if you can swing laying down filter fabric beneath it, would really help your driveway stay hard and dry.

EDIT: Forgot you'd mentioned you plan to add material in the original post.

 

[beenthere]

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.

Add your new gravel down the center and don't spread it out any further than you want it. Let the grass grow along the edges and only roll that grassy area for easier mowing.
From the pics, think that would work quite well with a crown so the water runs to the sides.

 

[Woodstock Walt]

Ah, disregard my previous post. Sorry about that.

 

[Jac65]

I have about 1000' of gravel drive and have been able to maintain it for the last 10 years with only an adjustable back blade. Only problem is that there was no good base put in when it was made (before my time) so my rock keeps sinking. If it is in the budget I would put down cloth where you want the actual drive to be and cover that with your material of choice. spread it to the width you want and don't worry about the sides nature will take them back is a year or two, plus its good to have the gravel in the grass when delivery trucks run off the edge of your drive.

 

[NC1]

What's the best option as far as gravel. Around here most people use ABC/Crusher Run, it packs nicely with the fines. Is there a better option I should consider? What have you had the best luck with in the long run?

 

[dirttoys]

What's the best option as far as gravel. Around here most people use ABC/Crusher Run, it packs nicely with the fines. Is there a better option I should consider? What have you had the best luck with in the long run?

Your driveway is almost a picture of mine, all those miles away. I use road rock, which is 3/4 minus, and top with what we call base, which is (counter intuitively) crusher run, or dust whatever you call it. Fines by themselves don't hold up very well and seem to disappear very quickly, and make tracks, which then channel water and wash out.

Make sure you: 1. get it higher than the ditches, 2. get some crown it it, 3. don't work it any more than you have to to keep the wheel tracks out.

If you can stand the $ the fabric will make a difference.

Best,

ed

 

[nyone]

Put some nice big rocks where you want it skinnier..did this on mine and all of a sudden people stayed on the driveway.

People where making my driveway a 1' bigger each year on my turn around. And some drove right across the grass. Few big rocks fixed that real fast.

 

[NC1]

Put some nice big rocks where you want it skinnier..did this on mine and all of a sudden people stayed on the driveway.

People where making my driveway a 1' bigger each year on my turn around. And some drove right across the grass. Few big rocks fixed that real fast.

Great Idea!

 

[nyone]

I took a look at your pics. Your driveway could really benefit from road fabric in that flat area and a whole lot more gravel. I wouldnt even considered what I'm seeing gravel.