A culvert is a closed conduit used or transverse drain constructed to convey water from side drains and

or natural water courses to cross from one side of the road to the other side below the road
surface.
Culverts were installed on the defined lower points of the gravel road which had a lot of running
water that would run across the road leading to deterioration. The installed concrete pipe culverts
had an internal diameter of 0.6m and external diameter of 0.72m, with a length of 1m.Culvert
gradient depends on the land terrain.
They are always installed at 0% to 5% gradient in flat terrain, 5% to 12.5% gradient in rolling
terrain and more than 12.5% gradient in hilly terrain.
The culverts were installed at a gradient of 4% since
Tools used
Strings boning rods
Ranging rods pegs
Tape measure spirit level/ line level
2.2 Procedures for Culvert Installation
1. After determining the position of culvert lines and the lowest points on the road for the
culvert installation, the number of culverts calculated as below.

width of theroad
2. Number of culverts required ¿
lengthof one culvert
4.5 m
a. = =4.5 ; Thus, 5 culverts were required for the
1m
installation.
3. The culverts were transported to the point of installation using truck.

a. Setting out for the culvert trench and the outlet trench
b. Tools like tape measure, boning and ranging rods, pegs and strings were used to
set out the culvert trench, inlet, and outlet and discharge trenches.
4. At the point of installation, two pegs, A and B were fixed at the shoulder break points at
both road edges, ensuring that pegs were on the same level. This was achieved by use of
a line level. The two pegs were at a distance of 4.5m (carriage way width) since it was a
district road class 3. Peg A was at the inlet and peg B at the outlet.
5. The depth to be excavated at the inlet was calculated at peg A to ensure adequate cover.
From internal diameter = 0.6m and culvert thickness = 0.12m, external diameter =
0.6+0.12 = 0.72m.
3 3
Over fill= of internal diameter = ×0.6=0.45 m
4 4

Total depth at inlet = external diameter + overfill = 0.72+ 0.45 = 1.17m

 6. With a chosen gradient of 4%, the difference in level between peg A and B was
4
calculated as; difference in level = gradient ×distance between pegs= × 4.5=0.18
100
m. peg A was then raised by the same distance by establishing a second peg at that
height.
7. The depth to be excavated at the outlet (peg B) was also determined as; outlet depth =
inlet depth +difference ∈level=1.17 +0.18=1.35 m.

6. Found the end of the outlet drain by using boning rods and a stick rod of length 1.35m.
The boning rod and stick rod were moved away from peg B until the tops of the 3 boning
rods at A, B&C were in line and at the same level. This was at a distance of 19.7m from
the end of the outlet. It is illustrated in figure 2.1 the width of the trenches and the
discharge drain was determined and points marked. Pegs were fixed and the points
connected for excavation.

Figure 3-17: Setting Out For the Culverts.

Figure 2.18: Illustration of Culvert Trench

 a) Culvert Trench width = external diameter + (2× working space)
=0.72 m + (2× 0.3) = 1.32m
b) The volume of culvert trench was calculated as; = length× width× depth.
1.17 m+1.35 m
=4.5 m ×1.32 m×( ) =6.804m3
2
1. The volume of the outlet trench was calculated. Figure 2.3 illustrates the dimensions of the
trench drain;

Figure 2.19: Illustration of the Outlet Trench Dimensions.

Volume of the trench drain = ( 1.2 m+1

2
m
)× 1.32 m×13 m
=18.88m3
2. Calculated the number of workers required for excavation of culvert trench and trench drain.
Total volume of trench and trench drain = 7.47m3 + 18.88m3
= 26.35m3
The task rate for excavation used was = 2.4m3/work day
26.35
Number of workers required to complete the excavation in one day= = 10.979
2.4
= 11 workers

3. The outlet trench was excavated as shown in the figure 2.4. This was done before the culvert
trench excavation to avoid the ponding of water in case it rained.
 Figure 2.20 outlet trench excavation.
4. Excavated the culvert trench using the pick axes, hoes and spades as shown in figure 2.5.

Figure 2.21 culvert trench excavation

.
5. After excavations were done, the gradient of the culvert bed was checked and backfilling
was done necessarily to get the correct gradient. This was done by using a string, spirit-
level, boning rods and measuring tape as shown in figure 2.6.
 Figure 2.22 checking level of the culvert trench
The culvert pipes were lowered with ropes and placed in the correct position as shown in
the figure 2.7. It was ensured that the pipes are laid in the middle of the trench and their
centers are in line.

Figure 2.23 culvert installation

6. Backfilled the material and compact in thin layers as shown in figure 2.8.
 Figure 2.24 Back fill and compaction
7. All the procedures were repeated for other culvert lines

2.4 Importance of Culverts

a. Disposal of runoff helps to keep the sub base dry and preserve the roadbed, ditches and
banks.
Strategically placed culverts along with road ditch turn-outs help to maintain a stable velocity and the
proper flow capacity. This alleviates roadway flooding, reduce erosion and thus minimize the
maintenance problems.
b. Culverts collect water from the surrounding upstream, direct it through the opening and
disperse it safely on the surrounding downstream terrain.

2.5 Parts of a Culvert Structure

The culvert structure is comprised of many parts like head wall, inlet, wing wall and outlet. The
different parts of the culvert are shown in figure 2.9.
Wing wall Headwall
B

Water
flow Inlet
A A’
Road
Centreline

Outlet

Figure 2.25: Parts of the Culverts.

setting out for end structures
These are structures constructed at the culvert lines for the purpose of proper drainage of runoff and
they include; Head wall and wing wall. They are normally constructed using concrete and hard
core because of their durability as construction materials hence they are not easily shrieked by
the runoff.
2.1 Head Wall
These are structures constructed at the inlet part of the culvert to provide support for the load
over the culvert and to prevent road materials (soil and gravel) from being pushed out
from the carriageway and washed into the culvert. It also enhances traffic safety by
marking clearly the edges of the culvert lines.
2.1 setting out a head wall

a) The width of the road section was measured using the tape measure and the obtained
value (4.5 m) was divided into two equal parts; to get the road Centre line (at 2.25 m).
b) Measured the distance between the Centre line and the end of the culvert line with the
help of tape measure and ranging rod.
c) At the chosen points on the Centre line, pegs were fixed and joined using a string and
measured a distance of 2.4m from them to the end of the culvert line.
d) At the end of the 2.4m, pegs were fixed and still joined using the string, ensuring right
angles at the corners (at the pegs). This was achieved with the help of the building square.

Figure 2.26 setting out for head walls

e) From the Centre line of the culverts, measured 0.3m to define the culvert end for
both sides (0.3 was the radius of the culverts).
f) From the culvert ends, measured off 0.3m to the wall thicknesses.
g) Again 0.3 m was measured for the wall thicknesses and 0.1m for working space.
h) Therefore [(0.3m+0.3m+0.3m+0.1m) ×2] =2m; the length of the head wall for
excavation. Pegs were fixed at the end of measured distances for reference while
excavating.
i) From the shoulder break, 0.4m was measured for the wall thickness and working space
inclusive.
j) Measured off 1m, the actual width of the drop inlet and 0.4m again for the wall and
working space. So [(0.4m+1.0m+0.4m)] =1.8m; the width of the head wall excavation.
Still pegs were fixed at the end of measured distances for reference while excavating.
1. Calculated the depth of head wall and its excavation volume.
a) Calculation of inlet depth = cover fill + external diameter + apron thickness
3
= ( × 0.6) + 0.72m +0.1m
4
=1.27m
 Figure2.27: Illustration of Head Wall.
b) Volume of excavation = (length × width × depth)
= (2m× 1.8m× 1.2 7m)
= 4.57m3
3. Calculated the number of workers needed for excavation in one day.
Task rate of exaction = 2.4m3/work day
4.57
Number of workers = = 1.904
2.4
= 2 workers were required to complete the excavation of head wall in one day.
4. Excavated the head wall according to the measurement done as above.
5. Calculated the volume of the head wall apron.

Figure 2.28: Dimensions of Head Wall Apron.

Volume of apron = (length× width× thickness) × bulking factor
= (2.0m× 1.8m× 0.125m) × 1.25
=0.563m3
3.2 Setting out a wing Wall
Wing walls are structures provided at the outlet and sometimes at the inlets to prevent soil and debris
from road washed down into the culvert. The structures consist of cutoff wall, apron and the
wings hence their name wing wall.
3.2.1 Setting out for the outlets
a) Procedures (a - g) above were repeated for the wing wall.
b) Therefore [(0.3m+0.3m+0.3m+0.1m) ×2] =2m; the length of the head wall for
excavation. Pegs were fixed at the end of measured distances for reference while
excavating.
 c) d) From the shoulder break, 1.4 m was measured and this was the width of
excavation.
d) Using a 3, 4, 5 method, the interior angle (45o) from the perpendicular distance of the
wing wall at which the wall will slope was determined.
1. Calculated the excavation depth, long distance of the wing wall and the excavation
volume as below;
Short length = 2m
Width = actual width of wing wall + wall thickness
= 1m + o.3m
=1.3m
Depth = excavation depth at B + apron thickness
= 1.32m + 0.1m
= 1 .42m
Construction angle = 450
Long length =2× (1.3m ×tan 45˚) + short length
= (2× 0.751) + 2m
=3.5m

2.0m

Figure 2.29: Illustration of a Wing Wall.

short length+longlength
Volume of excavation =( )× width × depth
2
1
Volume of excavation = [ × ( 2.0 m+3 .5 m ) ]×1.3 m× 1.42m
2
=5.077m3
2. Calculated the excavation volume of the cutoff wall

Figure 2.30: Illustration of Cutoff Wall.

Volume = 3m×0.2m×0.2m
 = 0.12m3
Total excavation volume for the wing wall = [5.077m3+0.12m3]
=5.202m3
4. Calculated the number of workers required for the excavation work in one day as below.
Excavation task rate = 2.4m3/day
5.0202
Number of workers = = 2.16
2.4
=2 workers were required.
Volume of the wing wall apron and cutoff wall

Figure 2.31: Illustration of Wing Wall Apron.

a. Volume of apron ¿ ¿]

=[ ( 2.0+3.5
2 )
×1 ×0.125 ¿

= 0.344m3
Concrete beneath the culvert = 0.3m× 0.125m× 1.8m
= 0.0675m3
b. Volume of cut off wall

Figure2.32: Cut Off Wall.

Volume = 3m ×0.2m× 0.2m
= 0.12m3
Total volume = (0.344 + 0.0675 + 0.12) ×bulking factor
= 0.5315 × 1.25
= 0.664m3
 3. Repeated procedures 6 to 8 for the wing wall apron.
4. Calculated the actual volume of the walls of the wing wall
Long length = [2 × (1m ×tan 300)] + 1.8m
= 3m

Figure 2.33 Illustration of Wing Wall Dimensions.

Length X = √ [12 + (1×tan 30)2]
=1.155m
2
Length Y = ×1.32 = 0.88m
3
Length Z =√ 0.92 +1.02
= 1.35m
1.32+ 0.88
Volume of A =2× [( ) ×1.35 ×0.3] = 0.891m3
2
1.8+1.2
Volume of B =[( ) ×1.32× 0.3] =0.594m3
2
Volume (A+ B) = 0.891 + 0.594 = 1.485m3

Excavation of wing and head walls