Forestry Mulching
Brush, undergrowth, and small trees ground into a clean mulch layer on-site in a single pass — the low-impact way to clear Northshore land.
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Culvert installation puts a sized pipe under your driveway so the roadside ditch keeps flowing. We install new driveway culverts and replace failed ones across Covington, Mandeville, Madisonville, Abita Springs, Slidell and Folsom. W2 Commercial Construction is a Louisiana State Licensed Contractor, LA State Lic# 78829. We have worked Northshore ground for more than 20 years.
St. Tammany Parish sets the rules for a culvert in the parish right of way. The Department of Engineering wants a plan with the pipe size, slopes and elevation before work starts. We prepare that paperwork with you, dig the ditch to grade and set the pipe on a crushed stone base. Then we backfill, compact and build the limestone approach over the top.
The parish document is short and specific. It says to contact the Department of Engineering at 985-898-2552 prior to all work. You need a plan with the property description, boundary distance, culvert size, upstream and downstream culvert sizes, slopes and elevation. The same document states that the property owner is responsible for all work and costs. The parish also asks for any detail that helps locate and verify the culvert later.
Subdivisions add more checks before the dig. The parish tells you to review the subdivision plat and check with your HOA. If an approved subdivision drainage plan exists with a culvert schedule, that schedule must be followed. Inside Covington city limits the city has its own right of way permit, so confirm with the city. Standing water behind the ditch is a different fix, and that is our yard drainage and French drain work.
The parish sets a floor and a storm standard. A culvert must be sized to adequately handle a 10-year storm event. In no case can it be less than 15 inches, or a 15 inch arch equivalent. Covington averages 62.51 inches of rain a year, with 6.66 inches in June. We also check the upstream and downstream culvert sizes, which the parish plan asks for.
Material choice follows the parish rule. It must be a LADOTD approved type culvert, and metal must be bituminous coated. That leaves reinforced concrete pipe and HDPE as the usual picks here. Pipe maker ADS lists a minimum 100 year design service life for its dual wall HDPE pipe. Reinforced concrete pipe is heavier and stiffer, and it is the usual choice where trucks cross every day.
Work starts with measurements at the ditch. We record the flow line, the upstream and downstream pipe sizes and the elevation you have to match. The parish allows elevation within +0.2 feet, so the pipe sits where the ditch already drains. We put that on the plan for the Department of Engineering, and you sign as the property owner. The same equipment behind our excavation services then opens the ditch to grade.
The base under the pipe is part of the parish plan. You state the base material and depth, preferably 6 inches of crushed stone or crushed concrete. Any open ditch section between culverts must run at least 10 linear feet, or sit at least 5 linear feet from the property line. On runs over 50 feet the Engineering Department must inspect the install before backfill covers it. After compaction we spread the limestone approach. The rest of the drive is our gravel and limestone driveway work, built with the same grading and dirt work we do on building pads.
A failed culvert shows up as a dip in the driveway or water standing in the ditch. Rusted metal pipe collapses at the ends first, then the driveway sinks over the crushed section. Silt and roots block a pipe over time, so we clean the ditch line on both ends. We pull the old pipe, regrade the ditch, then set a properly sized pipe on fresh base. If the ditch crosses a creek or canal, the parish asks you to call the Engineering Department first.
Cross drain culverts do the same job under a farm lane or a long private drive. Water that used to pool on the uphill side runs under the lane instead of across it. Long runs bring more rules, since catch basins or T-inlets are required at least every 50 linear feet. Anything past 50 feet needs a plan stamped by a Louisiana licensed civil engineer. We build to that plan on private roads and pastures around Madisonville and Folsom.
Free, no-obligation estimates across the Northshore & Greater New Orleans.
(985) 966-2584From the first call to the final pass, here’s exactly how your project runs.
Call us or fill out the quick estimate form. We’ll talk through your land development, sitework, concrete, or fencing project and set up a time to look at the property.
We walk your property, assess the site conditions, and recommend the right plan for your goals, timeline, and budget — with honest, upfront advice.
You get a detailed, no-surprise estimate and a schedule. Once you’re ready, we lock in your project date and stage the equipment and crew.
Our experienced team shows up on time and gets it done right — clearing, grading, pouring, or building with precision, care, and a clean job site.
Common questions about culverts across the Northshore & Greater New Orleans. Don’t see yours? Give us a call — we’re happy to help.
Brush, undergrowth, and small trees ground into a clean mulch layer on-site in a single pass — the low-impact way to clear Northshore land.
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Digging, trenching, cut-and-fill, and pond work backed by heavy equipment and 20+ years on Northshore soil.
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Land leveling, fill dirt, cut-and-fill, and finish grading that gives your project a stable base and water that drains the right way.
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Stumps ground out below the surface and roots cleared, so you get back a clean, usable, build-ready spot.
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House and building pads, slab prep, soil stabilization, and drainage — a stable, level, code-ready base for your build.
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Driveways, slabs, foundations, parking lots, and stamped concrete — high-strength flatwork engineered for South Louisiana soil and climate.
Learn MoreTwo decades of hands-on work across the Northshore — from backyard fences to full commercial sitework. We’ve handled it, and we get it right.
A Louisiana State-Licensed Contractor (LA Lic# 78829), fully insured for your protection and peace of mind from day one.
Land development, sitework, concrete, fencing, and decking under one roof — no juggling subs. We take your project from raw dirt to finished.
Reliable folks doing honest work — transparent pricing, clear communication, and a clean job site, every time.
Reliable, honest work — straight from the people we’ve built for.
“Excellent work provided by reliable and honest folks. Dane can take care of any excavation, landscaping or building job. Highly recommended!”
“Best fence work I’ve ever seen. Highly recommended — reasonable prices, great people!”
“Knowledgeable, professional and friendly guy. He and his crew did a great job on my fence and gates. The two six-foot gates he built are very sturdy.”
Planning a land development, sitework, concrete, or fencing project on the Northshore? Reach out today for a free, no-obligation estimate — and see why local property owners make W2 their first call.