A culvert is a wide pipe or passageway that runs under a road and allows water to pass through. You may need this type of drainage installation to correctly drain the water in your property to prevent flooding and erosion. Here is all you need to know about the different types of culverts and what problems they solve.

What Does a Culvert Do?

A culvert is required wherever water from your property has a path towards a road or train track. Without the right drainage installation, water from rain or snowmelt may flow over the roads and tracks, washing it out or forming a dangerous layer of ice. Digging a ditch or pond to gather is not a solution, since it doesn’t prevent erosion in the bed of the road, creates a breeding ground for pests like mosquitoes, and takes up valuable space on your property.

What Kinds of Culverts Exist?

The drainage installation right for your property depends on factors such as the amount of water that will pass through and the size of the road above it.

Culverts are typically made of steel or concrete to support the weight of cars or trains. Steel pipe culverts, which use round or elliptical pipes, are inexpensive and easy to install. Concrete box models can double as part of the road surface above them, but are more challenging to place since they must be installed in dry conditions. Arch culverts, which resemble miniature bridges, allow roads to go over existing waterways without interruption.

If you need excavating and drainage installation services to protect your property from flooding and erosion, contact Golden Alaska Excavating in Kodiak, AK. This woman-owned small business provides water and sewer line installation and is the area's only locally-raised excavating and trucking contractor. Learn about the scope of their services online and call (907) 512-0737 to plan a project.