Making Field Access Road - Field Tracks

[wibbsy]

Looking to make a 400m track over a private field to access an outbuilding. Access will be by 4x4s, cars, and the occasional tractor.

Ideally I would like to do this once and not have to be filling in potholes every year. However given the length is 400m+ trying to be conservative with the costs and perhaps build 2 wheel tracks rather then excavating a full road.

I looked at this post (https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/making-access-road-depth-of-base.108854/) and obtained some guidance but I just want to check if I've understood.

Option 1

Would this be a good track construction? If not what is missing/wrong?

Option 2

If I placed the dugout soil to the side of the tracks like so and maybe planted some foliage/shrubs in them would that be a good or bad thing in terms of draining?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Paul E]

I'm not convinced about planting trees next to the track mind.
I find that tracks under / next to trees are always sh1tty and clarty as you're driving through leaf litter all winter, and they're never dry in summer as they're in the shade.

 

[wibbsy]

Yes that makes sense. What about just leaving the topsoil to the side to act as a barrier for run off from the field? Does that make sense?

I'm also moving towards doing a full width road rather than tracks.

 

[Mydexta]

If you use the excavations as a barrier to stop water running from the fields to you're tracks, how does the water get off the tracks????

If you try to run it into the middle, you will have a wet strip between 2 hard ones, the water will end up under you're tracks and make them soft.

 

[Happy at it]

Does anyone actually dig two tracks instead of digging the full width. Surely the saving in stone, would be taken up in time, and effort to dig fill and compact two little tracks and make it look like something?

 

[BAC]

Does anyone actually dig two tracks instead of digging the full width. Surely the saving in stone, would be taken up in time, and effort to dig fill and compact two little tracks and make it look like something?

They do in Nz but obviously drier conditions

Dig off top soil, whack a load of brick hardcore in, top off with crush or MOT if your feeling rich then create a camber and get a big roller to compact

Just build the track slightly higher than the actual ground level

 

[chaffcutter]

I think the terram might be better between the crushed concrete or big stone, and type 1 or planing that you are using as a top course ?
Anyone got a view on this?

 

[BAC]

I think the terram might be better between the crushed concrete or big stone, and type 1 or planing that you are using as a top course ?
Anyone got a view on this?

Would just tear the Terram. All that Terram does is stop sh1t coming through. Waste of time putting it between hardcore, has to be on base layer