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One of the most important, sensitive, and detailed land development tasks you’ll face is road work and road construction. Whether you are looking to construct a road to better access your acreage or you’re taking the first step in building your dream home, there is a lot to consider.
We don’t say “sensitive” because road work is specialized or rocket-science-level difficult. We say that because this is likely the first of many steps on your way to meeting your goals. And a road needs to successfully connect all those goals together and last for years to come.
A private road is one that limited people will access, sometimes created with an easement, and consists of specially prepared materials. Private roads are built to handle conditions specific to their location with an appropriate level of maintenance.
To ensure this investment is worth it (and meets all your needs), you’ll need to plan accordingly and consider the following.
Land development and construction topics of any kind can seem really complicated, especially if you don’t have much experience with them. Each of the points you need to consider before embarking on this project is detailed below.
Caskin Development is a land development company that isn’t what you’re used to. We believe in being a solution—not another problem to work around. When setting up private or access roads, you have to be careful. You don’t want to unnecessarily disrupt the land. You don’t want to do this twice.
We take that to heart. Our goal is to meet your goals and leave you feeling cared for and satisfied.
There will be hurdles, problems, bumps, etc. We will work around each one and offer you the best solution possible. And we don’t just do road work. Caskin offers every type of land development service you could need to start your project off on the right foot, whether that’s commercial, residential, or that large plot of land you aren’t sure what to do with.
You can trust our team to get it right.
Serving states across the southeast, our team understands the importance of a sturdy road.
No matter what conditions your project has to navigate, at Caskin, we’ll do it right the first time—and that’s not just a nice-sounding line.
The Southeast is hard on roads, so we understand how important it is to lay a foundation built to last. We take care to create the proper shape (this is especially important in Florida), prepare grades to be smooth and level, and combine materials to create the right lay.
At Caskin, we are always looking to improve our client’s experience, which means…
We will take on as much or as little of the project as you need.
We have a reputation for working with our client's needs, meeting them, and leaving your land much better than how we found it. As a land development company, we have a lot of experience working with unforeseen circumstances and making the best of a bad deal. We won’t mince words. You’ve got a problem, and we will help you find a solution.
Private roads are unlike public ones in that they aren’t driven on as much, and there are fewer regulations around them. Choosing the route, meeting the needs of any future land development projects, clearing the land necessary, selecting the right fill, and putting it all together is up to the land owner.
Whether it’s where your children will play or where you’ll drive to check your timber stand, we can help complete private road construction for…
When constructing a road, you need to consider the intention and uses of the road heavily. First, as a private road, few will have access and a right to pass. If you are building access to a business, that is a different story.
You’ll need to think about the long haul. Are you planning to expand later? Will you need to add or improve access to the property for future projects? Do you want to handle all the road work upfront or take it in steps as you work through the project? What kind of vehicles will you need to access your property?
All of these are questions you’ll want to ask yourself and your team while working through this process. We can help fill in any of the blanks you are unsure of, but it helps to have an idea of what you are looking for.
Road work can be expensive, but it can also be a great investment into the future of your property. Some benefits of having access roads and road construction done on your property include improved access, increased property value, and a more convenient existence since everything is easier to get to.
Before you choose what types of materials, or even get physically started on this project, we recommend that take planning in stages.
We discuss each of these prep and planning stages below in more detail.
First, you’ll need to first decide on the location. The best way to do that is to balance all of the following factors.
On thing that is really helpful is drawing it out. Picturing the road as best as you can will help you understand what exactly you are asking for and how well your plan meets your needs. You don’t want to drive home every day wishing your road was just a little bit different. By being thorough in considering your needs, you’ll cut down a lot on future regret.
Next, after you’ve come to understand your needs and researched the complexities of your location, then you’ll take it a step further. You’ll have to learn about your property’s soil conditions, varying topographies, and areas that are going to need extra preparation and grading.
As for permitting needs, you’ll have to verify all of your plans with local officials, the fire department, etc. Also, you’ll need to find out if you’re required to pace the approach from the road.
The final stage of planning—once you understand all the factors—is budgeting. No one wants to talk about money, but that is a huge factor in road work—in any project, really. Everything costs money these days, and that includes almost everything involved with a construction project. So, look into the cost of each of the following to make sure your budget is as accurate as possible.
Some of you readers out there might be interested in controlling labor costs by handling as much of the project as you can yourself. One way to do that is land clearing and site preparation, but please discuss your plans with your road work contractors. Be sure that all that enthusiasm is moving your project in the right direction and not backward.
Prepping the site for road work can include
Discuss any other preparation steps needed for your area with your contractor and let them know if you are planning on contributing.
The best materials you can find for the job vary from project to project.
If you are working within a rural community, you might want to strive for a natural or rustic look. You can use gravel, sand, or crushed stone. If you are expecting there to be high traffic volume, you’ll want to use concrete, cement, or asphalt (recycled asphalt is also an option). You’ll need to evaluate the type of soil that is below the path you plan to follow.
Also, consider usual weather conditions such as
Land has edges and curves that don’t really work for making a functioning road. All you need is some hard rain, poor grading or drainage, and you have a flooded road that is more of a hazard than a help. Evaluate the way water naturally meets the road.
The best way forward is naturally directing the water away from the road, meaning following the track the water would have taken without the road’s presence. Additionally, you have to consider ways to reduce the impact of heavy rainfall. You aren’t worried about water until there are feet of it.
It’s never too late to add drainage and the more, the better when it comes to water mitigation.
The actual construction of the road often comes down to planning, a lack of curveballs, and execution of those plans. And then there is a phase after of upkeep.
Regularly giving your road some TLC is going to ensure longevity. Gravel driveways need to be repaired or added to. Do not skip the maintenance step of road work. It will cost you so much more to fix an issue than prevent it.
Some of the ways you can prevent future road work costs include
Outside of the actual road construction process, there are other things to consider. To make it as simple as possible, we’ll lay it out like a thematic checklist.
Permitting & Permission
Design & Planning
Dirtwork, Base & Paving
Don’t be afraid to discuss these topics with your road work contractors.
***The following is not legal advice.
If you’ve never heard of a private road maintenance agreement, it’s a document that assigns road responsibilities to land owners. It allows for a clear understanding of who handles what when it comes to the road. You’ll find that most mortgage companies require this when a private road is used to access your property.
They tend to outline what work needs to be done, roughly how long that will take, and who is responsible for payment. They almost never include information regarding future development or the reconstruction of your road.
Road work, also called road construction, is a term that includes every activity involved in maintaining, building, or improving a road. That can include land clearing, site prep, excavation, erosion control, construction, grading, etc.
A private road is that which is not maintained by the government, it also infers limited access. Private road construction is work that is paid for and controlled by the landowner. It’s often done with a private road management agreement.
Sometimes it comes down to deadlines and who can meet them, meaning you feel like you have no options. The most important aspect of the right road work company is balancing their understanding of what is necessary with your needs. You won’t always get what you want, and this is their expertise. But there are contractors who don’t listen. Education is a really important aspect of land development work. We say it’s always a good sign when your contractors are willing to educate you on the what, how, and why.
Usually, the process of getting a road fixed is simply based on calling a contractor, making sure they understand the issue, making sure they are the right person, and booking the service.
