When an HOA in Pittsboro, NC, contacted MWM Landscaping & Grading about a failing section of road on Fern Creek Trail, the problem went much deeper than the road surface.
A clogged and failing culvert pipe was no longer doing its job, allowing water to impact the roadway and contribute to its deterioration. The solution required more than simply repairing the road—it required addressing the drainage problem underneath it.
MWM brought in heavy excavation equipment and rebuilt the affected section with a new drainage and concrete system designed to better manage water and provide a durable foundation for the road.
The Challenge: A Failing Road Caused by Poor Drainage
The HOA reached out to MWM after a section of Fern Creek Trail began failing. The underlying issue was a clogged culvert pipe that was no longer effectively moving water beneath the road.
When drainage infrastructure fails, water can begin to collect, redirect, or flow through areas where it shouldn’t. Over time, that can undermine the road and surrounding soil, creating erosion, settlement, and other structural problems.
This is why addressing drainage is such an important part of successful grading and site preparation. MWM’s grading work includes drainage improvements designed to properly shape and stabilize the land while directing water where it needs to go.
For this Pittsboro project, the team needed to remove the failed culvert, rebuild the affected portion of the road, and create a more durable inlet and outlet system.
Excavating the Road and Removing the Failed Culvert
To access the damaged drainage system, MWM had to open up the road.
The crew arrived with a 320 Cat excavator and skid steers to handle the excavation and material removal. The road was carefully torn up so the existing culvert pipes could be exposed and removed.
This type of work requires substantial equipment and experience because the goal isn’t simply to remove the old pipe. The surrounding area has to be excavated enough to address the underlying drainage problem and prepare the site for the new infrastructure.
Once the old pipes were removed, MWM could begin rebuilding the drainage system and road.
Installing a Concrete Headwall With Wing Walls
One of the most important improvements was the installation of a concrete headwall with wing walls on the inlet side of the culvert.
A headwall provides a strong, stable structure around the entrance of the culvert while the wing walls help retain the surrounding soil and direct water toward the pipe.
For a roadway drainage project like this, these structural elements help protect the culvert entrance and surrounding road embankment from erosion and deterioration.
MWM approaches projects with the goal of addressing the underlying site conditions—not simply covering up the visible problem. Proper grading and drainage are fundamental to creating stable, long-lasting outdoor improvements.
Adding Rip Rap to Help Control Water Flow
The team also installed rip rap around the inlet area.
Rip rap consists of strategically placed rock that helps slow and disperse water, reducing the force of runoff as it approaches the drainage structure. This is particularly important in areas where concentrated water flow can cause erosion.
By combining the concrete headwall and wing walls with rip rap, MWM created a more durable transition between the surrounding ground and the culvert inlet.
Water management was the key to solving the problem—not simply rebuilding the road over the existing drainage issue.
Building a Concrete Apron for the Road
Once the drainage improvements were in place, MWM used concrete to construct an apron across the road.
The concrete apron provides a durable surface over the drainage crossing and creates a strong transition between the roadway and the culvert system.
Concrete is one of the services MWM offers as part of its broader hardscaping and outdoor construction capabilities, including driveways, patios, and other concrete applications.
For this project, the concrete work was an important part of rebuilding the road after the culvert replacement.
Rebuilding the Road From the Ground Up
With the failed drainage system removed and the new infrastructure installed, the road could be reconstructed.
This is where the combination of excavation, grading, drainage, and concrete work came together. Rather than treating the damaged road as an isolated surface problem, MWM addressed the cause of the failure first.
That approach is especially important for roads and other areas exposed to significant water flow. A properly graded and prepared surface can help direct water appropriately while providing a more stable base for the finished improvement.
MWM provides grading services for drainage improvements, landscape renovations, construction projects, and other applications where proper slopes and site preparation are critical.
A Long-Term Drainage Solution for the HOA
The Fern Creek Trail project demonstrates why drainage problems should be addressed at their source.
A clogged or failing culvert can create much bigger problems when water begins affecting the road around it. In this case, MWM was able to combine heavy excavation, culvert removal, concrete construction, rip rap installation, and road restoration into one coordinated project.
The result was a rebuilt section of Fern Creek Trail with a new drainage system designed to better manage water and protect the roadway.
Need Help With a Drainage or Grading Problem?
Drainage problems don’t always start where you can see them. A failing road, eroded area, standing water, or damaged landscape may be the result of an underlying grading or drainage issue.
MWM Landscaping & Grading provides grading, land preparation, concrete, hardscaping, and storm recovery services throughout the Triangle and surrounding areas. The company’s approach combines site preparation and drainage fundamentals with the finished improvements needed to restore and improve a property.
If your property has a drainage, grading, road, or erosion problem, contact MWM Landscaping & Grading for a project consultation and estimate.
