SMALLHOLDER COMMERCIALIZATION AND AGRIBUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
PROJECT (SCADeP)
Labour-Based Technology Training of Trainees for Contractor’s
Supervisors
Makeni City, September, 2022
MODULE 7 – CULVERTS
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MODULE 7: CULVERTS
7.1 Introduction
Culverts play a very important role of the drainage system to lead water away from the road.
Culverts allow water to cross underneath the road and lead water from uphill side of the road to the lower
side where it can be safely discharged. Road construction may obstruct the natural flow of water unless the
crossroad drainage is properly designed and provided.
The water may be flowing from natural streams or run‐off surface water from the road structure or areas
close to the road. There are basically two types of culverts, depending on their functions:
Relief culvert: This is an integrated part of the road drainage system, and conveys water from the upper
side of the road to the lower side. It discharges runoff water during and after rainfall from the road surface,
side drains and adjacent roadside areas.
Relief culverts carry water seasonally only.
Stream culvert: This is required at the intersection point between an existing water course and road
alignment. The stream culvert allows water from streams, rivers or canals to cross beneath the road. The
volume of water to be discharged through the culvert includes the flood carried by stream or river and runoff
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water from the road drainage system.
MODULE 7: CULVERTS
7.1 Introduction
(Cont’d)
Concrete pipe culvert: They can be manufactured on site or purchased from suppliers. The most common
size used for rural roads is the pipe culvert with a diameter of 60 cm or 90cm made from concrete. Note that
pipe culvert can also be made from corrugated metal. Any smaller diameter should be avoided as they may
be difficult to clean and maintain. Larger diameters of concrete pipes need to be reinforced and require a
thicker layer of fill over the rings. A large size culvert can be replaced with two or more rows of a smaller
dimension.
Reinforced Concrete box culvert: Rectangular shaped culverts – referred to as reinforced concrete box
culverts ‐ are commonly used to cater for larger crossings.
Box culvert refer to the mix of stone masonry for abutment walls, wing walls and aprons with reinforced
concrete slab. This culvert is commonly used to catch smaller crossing river or relief culvert. This design is
suitable where stones for the masonry work are readily available.
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MODULE 7: CULVERTS
7.1
Culvert
Types
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MODULE 7: CULVERTS
7.1 Culverts
Culverts allow water to cross underneath the road to a place where it can be safely discharged.
The water may be from natural streams or run-off surface water from the road structure.
The siting of culverts should be carried out during the initial setting out of the road alignment. It is
important that the culverts are regarded as an integral part of the overall drainage system of the
road.
If an existing road is being improved, most culvert sites will be obvious, because the road will have
been damaged in some way. In such a situation, look for places where:
• Small gullies have formed, because water has been flowing across the road,
• Sand has deposited on the road, because of standing water, or
• Drains have been badly damaged, because they have been carrying too much water.
When determining the level of the culvert, make sure that there is sufficient slope in the outlet
drain, downstream of the culvert.
It is important to take great care concerning where the water is discharged. Water collected along
the road and discharged through a culvert may produce serious soil erosion in the surrounding
areas. When water needs to be discharged on to farm land, it is important to discuss the water
management with the local farmers, thereby avoiding to damage or disrupt the farming activities.
In some cases, it may be possible for the farmers to make use of the water.
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7.1 Culverts
Cross drainage structures made of concrete culvert In the manufacturing process, the role of the
pipes are the most commonly used drainage supervisor is to ensure that the conditions for proper
structures on district and feeder roads. concreting procedures are in place and that proper
Depending on the terrain, an average of 3 to 5 culvert standards regarding concrete technology are adhered
lines per kilometre is normal. As the name already to:
indicates, the pipes should ensure that water can Basic materials such as cement, aggregates, sand
cross the road there where it is required. and water must be clean and stockpiles must be
properly stored.
The first step in the construction of culverts is the The casting floor (preferably a concrete floor) must
manufacturing of the rings itself. be level and firm.
The moulds must have no damages and
The most preferable option for the contractor is, to deformations.
manufacture the concrete rings at site under the A gauge box must be at the site to allow
contractor’s own management. The contractor will be measurement of the ingredients by volume.
in control of the manufacturing process and is able to For curing, a shed is recommended and the use of
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plan the production according to the work plan. sacks, which can be frequently dampened with water.
7.2 Concrete Mix proportions
The figure shows the design measurements of a gauge box for batching by volume of
ONE bag of cement with the required number of boxes of the other
ingredients.
Gauge box to control mix
proportions
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The table below shows the nominal mix designs by volume.
Concrete mix proportions in batching by volume
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Concrete mix proportions in batching by volume
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7.3 Typical Culvert Features
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7.4 Culvert Location
The location of culverts should be determined during the road condition survey. The final location of the culvert should be
agreed during construction. It is important to identify all locations where the culverts are needed along the road that is being
rehabilitated. The following are signs that a culvert is needed or an existing culvert needs to be replaced:
small gullies have formed because water has been flowing across the road,
sand has deposited on the road because of standing water, or
because they have carried too much water.
Careful consideration should be given to how and where the water is discharged. Water collected along the road and
discharged through a culvert may cause serious soil erosion and damage to the surrounding downstream areas.
Positioning of a culvert
The position of a culvert is critical. A culvert should be positioned as close as possible to the direction of the natural flow of
the stream or river. Positioning of culverts should be in the following manner:
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7.4 Culvert Location
Relief Culvert: A relief culvert or cross drain structure,
should be perpendicular to the (horizontal) road
alignment. Therefore the centerline of the culvert should Culvert alignment is
be 90˚ to the road centerline. perpendicular to the
road centerline.
Culvert alignment is
Stream Culvert: A stream culvert should be set out in in the direction of
the direction or alignment of the stream causing the lowest the stream or river
possible disruption to the natural flow of the watercourse. course (skewed).
Alignment of culverts or cross drain structures
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7.5 Setting Out
Setting out position of culvert (culvert centerline)
The position, gradient and dimension for a
culvert can be established with simple setting Once the location of the culvert has been finally
out methods using simple setting out tools as agreed, it is important to establish center line for the
indicated in table below: culvert.
1. Setting Out for a Relief Culvert
The centerline for the culvert should be perpendicular to the
centreline of the road.
This process can follow the setting out for a 90˚ angle process
(for example, 3‐4‐5 method as described in the road setting out
module).
Once the center line of the culvert is established, two wooden
pegs are set as reference at the inlet and outlet of the culvert.
To facilitate the construction works, additional two offset pegs
should be set 2‐3m away from the inlet and outlet pegs.
These offset pegs will help keep and indicate information
during construction, such as level of foundation, level of
bedding, abutment height level and centerline of the culvert.
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1. Setting Out for a Relief Culvert
2. Setting Out for a Stream Culvert. Once the alignment of the stream is identified two
The centerline of the culvert should be aligned wooden pegs should be set at inlet and outlet of the
to the stream flow direction. culvert. It is recommended to also to establish two
The center line of this culvert depends on the off set pegs as above mentioned.
direction of the flow crossing the road.
This centerline can sometimes
be perpendicular to the road center line, but
sometimes, it can also be skewed to the road
center line.
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Excavated Trench Width
3. Setting Out the width of the culvert
Equation for the trench width of a culvert:
Set out trench for the width of the culvert.
1.25Bc + 1ft. ≡ [1.25Bc + 300mm]
The trench should be wide enough to allow workers to
comfortably carry out the construction of the Where, Bc is the outside diameter of the pipe in feet
(mm)
abutment.
Bc = Inner pipe diameter + 2(wall thickness of
A clearance of at least 30 ‐ 40 cm on each side of the pipe).
intended width of the abutments.
Example:
1.25 x {600mm + 2(50.0)} + 300mm = 1.25 x (600
Therefore, for a culvert of inner diameter =
+ 100) + 300
The width of the trench should be measured 600mm, with
(1.25 x 700 )+ a300
wall thickness
= 875.0 + 300of=50mm, the
1,175.0 mm
from center line of the culvert. trench width to be excavated = 1,175.0
mm wide.
The purpose of adding an extra width of 30 ‐ 40 cm
on each side of the abutment is to keep sufficient
space for compacting the fill material with hand
rammers or hand tamper.
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4. Setting Out Level of Outlet and Inlet for a Culvert
Step 1. Set peg A at inlet and peg B at
The gradient of bed level of the culvert should be 2‐4 % in outlet.
order to allow water flow through the culvert, washing out In determining inlet level, the inlet level should
any deposits to reduce future maintenance requirements. be the same level of the stream bed.
When determining the level of the culvert, also ensure For the relief culvert, the inlet level should be
that there is a sufficient slope at downstream of the at the level of the side drain or otherwise should
culvert. The following steps should be followed for setting be fixed by the engineer. The inlet level should
out inlet and outlet of the culvert: be set after excavation of trench.
Once the inlet level is identified, mark the inlet
level as ( a ). The level ( a ) is transferred to
offset pegs by line level .
Step 2. Set outlet level:
Transfer the level ( a ) to Peg B by using line
level, then deduct 2‐ 4%.
Saturday, July 26, 2025 This level represents level ( b ). Transfer level
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4. Setting Out Level of Outlet and Inlet for a Culvert (Cont’d)
Example:
The distance between peg A and peg B = 6.0 m (not
4.0m) and the average slope is 3%. The difference in
level (h) of A and B is therefore h = 6m x 3/100= 0.18
m.
So the outlet level ( b ) should be marked 0.18m lower
than (a).
Attention should be made when setting out inlet and
outlet levels. The figures show the correct and incorrect
ways of determining inlet levels.
The outlet level will depend on the inlet level as
described in the example in the previous slide.
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7.6 Culvert Bedding & Haunching
Culvert Bedding and Haunching
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END OF
PRESENTATION
THANK YOU!!!
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