No person may install, build, construct, repair or replace a private driveway connecting to a public street or across a public easement unless a culvert is installed in accordance with the following specifications:
(A) New culverts.
(1) The Brazoria County Road and Bridge Department will set driveway culverts at the request of the town only. Residents wishing to set their own culverts must first contact Dig Tess 1- (800) 354-8377 or 811 for a line locate request. Failure to complete a dig locate request shall be grounds for issuance of a citation, and liability for damages, should any occur.
(2) They will not set culverts in rights-of-way for state roads or on private roads.
(3) Residents wishing new culverts to be set are required to furnish reinforced concrete pipe 18-inches in diameter, or larger, as determined by town personnel. Reasonable notice from resident is required.
(4) Brazoria County Road and Bridge will cover the culvert with soil or other material available on the site at the time culvert is set. Any material other than what was dug out must be purchased by the resident and on site at time of installation. Brazoria County Road and Bridge will not return to spread materials later that day or on a different day.
(B) Existing culverts. When drainage projects are undertaken by the town, culverts may be enlarged if necessary, and replaced with reinforced concrete pipe at the town's expense. Provided your culverts are currently in compliance with all ordinances in force at time of the improvement. Installation will be completed as follows:
(1) Culverts covered with base material will be re-covered with base material;
(2) Asphalt or concrete removed will be replaced with asphalt; and
(3) When the town undertakes projects to re-surface road with asphalt, asphalt will be tapered on the outside edge of pavement at existing driveways to avoid abrupt drop off.
(C) Culvert installation.
(1) Stake or mark the ditch where you would like to have the culvert(s) set. Contact Town Hall and we will send out a representative to measure the ditch; and you will be notified of the correct size of reinforced concrete pipe you need to purchase.
(2) Once the size is determined, you will need to order the reinforced concrete culvert pipe, and have them delivered to the site. You may purchase them from the town or from any vendor you desire.
(3) If you desire, you may order road surface material for your culvert such as crushed limestone base, crushed concrete, etc., and you must have it delivered to the site.
(4) After all materials are delivered to the site, notify the town and we will put in a work order to have the culvert(s) installed.
(5) Once the town is notified we will contact Brazoria County. They will present the request to Commissioners Court for approval. Once approved, the order for installation will be sent to Brazoria County Road and Bridge for placement on their schedule.
(D) Driveway surface.
(1) The resident's contractor may add asphalt or concrete surfacing over a driveway culvert at the resident's expense. Contractors shall insure alignment of culvert pipe(s) is/are not altered during such operation.
(2) If resident's contractor adds concrete surfacing; an expansion joint shall be provided two feet beyond outer edge of pipe on each end of culvert pipe, to facilitate removal of concrete as may be necessary to enlarge pipe during drainage improvement projects.
(3) No concrete shall be placed within 11 feet of roadway center line.
(E) Costs. Property owner will be required to purchase culvert(s), and any material to cover them, however; there is no cost to have the culvert(s) installed.
(F) Standard driveway size. The standard driveway typically is 20 feet. A driveway of 48 feet or wider will need to have a clean out, with one every 48 feet. The smallest allowable driveway is 18 feet wide.
(G) Required material. If you want something other than dirt/soil, for a standard driveway at 20 feet, it will take one load (14 to 15 yards, sometimes called a tandem load). Limestone only will take about one load. If you want part stabilized sand and limestone, then you would get half stabilized sand and half limestone. For crushed concrete (rock) it would be about one load for 14 to 15-feet of coverage.
(Ord. 2017-07, passed 12-5-2017)