A culvert is a tunnel under or beside a road that allows water to drain away, preventing dangerous road conditions. It is installed during road construction and prevents water from accumulating on the road surface or eating away at the roadbed. Culverts can be made of various materials and sizes.
A culvert is a cut under or beside a road that allows water to drain away, rather than pooling and making road conditions dangerous. Technically, only an enclosed tunnel under a road can be classified as a culvert, and a cutting near a road is called a ditch, but some English speakers use the term “underground” to refer to both. Culverts are a vital part of the system used to drain roads and streets, protecting them and prolonging their life.
Ideally, a culvert is installed when a road is being built, either by the local highway authority or by a property owner, if the culvert is on private land. Generally, if a stretch of road is in a low-lying area or in a flood-prone region, a drainage ditch should be installed to facilitate drainage, especially in winter. The culvert is laid into the roadbed during construction and is kept clear by maintenance crews during routine roadway checks throughout the year.
Culverts perform two main functions. The first is that a culvert allows water to drain under the road, rather than accumulate above it, making the surface safer for drivers. Water accumulated on a road can cause cars to hydroplane, hide hazards on the roadway, and eventually corrode the roadway, causing it to fail rapidly. If a road gets too flooded, it may need to be closed until the water level subsides, which is frustrating for drivers, but necessary for safety.
The second function of a culvert is to prevent water from collecting along the roadside edges and eating away at the underside of the roadbed. This prolongs the life of the road and prevents the roadsides from slowly crumbling, jeopardizing the safety of drivers. Also, if the water level near the road rises too high, it can begin to flood the roadway, forcing road closures until the water level drops again.
A culvert can be constructed from a wide variety of materials, depending on its size and location. Concrete, metal, and plastic are all common choices for lining the cut used to make a culvert, keeping the sides from sagging. Extremely large drains may be large enough to stand upright, allowing for a large volume of winter water, while small ones may not be much larger than home plumbing: large enough to divert water flow into a drainage area. If a culvert is not effective enough, it can be replaced with a small raised bridge to elevate the roadway above the frequently flooded area.
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