Professional Culvert Installation & Repair in Tipton & North Shelby Counties
Most folks don’t think twice about culverts… until a big rain turns the driveway into a moat. Or until water starts carving out ruts like it’s trying to build a creek across the yard.
Culverts aren’t fancy — they’re functional. Their whole job is simple: give water a way to pass through, not over. But here’s the catch — if they’re too small, too shallow, or packed in wrong, they’ll fail. Sometimes slowly. Sometimes overnight.
We’ve seen it all: driveway edges collapsing, ditches backing up, water eating away at shop pads and house foundations. And in almost every case? It could’ve been prevented with a properly installed culvert.
At Riverside Driveways, we install and repair culverts that actually do what they’re supposed to. Right pipe, right depth, right slope — every time. Because fixing water damage after the fact is expensive. Keeping it from happening in the first place? That’s just smart.
How We Install Culverts
Most driveway culverts fail because they were never installed right to begin with — wrong size, no base, barely compacted. That’s not how we work.
We start by figuring out where water actually goes (not where someone guessed it would). Then we dig to the right depth, check the slope, and build a solid base. The pipe we use? Sized for your runoff, not just what’s lying around. And every layer gets compacted — so it won’t wash out, float, or cave in over time.
Need flared ends or better drainage on one side? We’ll tell you. Want it to last? That’s what we build for.
How Do You Know If You Need a New Culvert?
Culvert problems don’t always show up in dramatic ways — sometimes, it’s the little signs that give it away. A soft edge on the driveway. A trickle of water where it used to drain clean. A bad smell in the ditch that doesn’t go away. It’s easy to brush it off… until it gets worse. And once erosion starts or the pipe gives out completely? You’re not just replacing a culvert — you’re rebuilding the ground above it, too.
Here are a few common signs your culvert might be failing:
- Water pooling near the road or driveway after rain
- Erosion at the pipe ends — or the whole culvert shifting out of place
- Mushy or sunken ground where the culvert runs underneath
- Cracks, rust, or visible damage to the pipe itself
- Blockages from debris or tree roots that keep coming back
- Water flowing over your driveway instead of under it
Should You Repair Your Culvert, or Replace it?
Not every bad culvert needs to be ripped out. Sometimes, a smart repair can add years of life to what you’ve already got — if the pipe is still in decent shape underneath.
If the culvert’s just shifted, clogged, or partially exposed, we may be able to clean it out, realign it, reinforce the ends, and recompact the ground around it. That’s a repair worth doing.
But if the pipe has collapsed, rusted through, or the ground above it is sinking, replacement is the safer (and usually cheaper-in-the-long-run) option.
Repairable Issues
- Washed-out ends
- Minor pipe movement
- Recurring blockages from poor grading
- Soft spots above an otherwise intact pipe
Issues Requiring Replacement
- Crushed or rusted pipe
- Undersized culvert that can’t handle runoff
- Severe erosion or sinkholes
- No base or visible signs of a failed install
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my culvert is too small for my property?
If water regularly backs up or flows over your driveway during rain, that’s usually the first sign. Undersized culverts can’t keep up with runoff — especially after heavy storms or seasonal shifts. We calculate flow based on your property’s slope and drainage, not just what “looks about right.”
What kind of pipe do you use — plastic or metal?
Depends on the site. We install both HDPE plastic and galvanized steel culverts. Plastic is durable, lightweight, and resistant to corrosion — great for most residential driveways. Steel works better for larger spans or where weight and traffic volume are higher. We’ll choose what fits the job and lasts longest on your land.
Can you fix a culvert that’s washed out at one end?
In many cases, yes. If the pipe is still solid, we can reset the end, backfill and compact properly, and add flared ends or headwalls to prevent it from happening again. If the damage is deeper or the pipe has shifted, we’ll walk you through repair vs. replacement.
How long does a typical culvert install take?
Most jobs take less than a day. For full replacements with cleanup and grading, maybe two. We show up when we say we will, get it done right, and leave the site clean and solid.
How far will you travel to install a culvert?
We’re based in Atoka, but we install and repair culverts all across South Tipton and North Shelby Counties — including Munford, Millington, Brighton, and the surrounding areas. If you’re within about 45–50 miles and the job makes sense, we’ll usually take it on. Not sure if you’re in range? Just ask — we’ll let you know fast.
Let’s Fix It Before It Fails
If your culvert’s already causing problems — or even if you’re just not sure it was ever installed right — now’s the time. Waiting doesn’t make water behave. It just makes the damage worse.
We’ve rebuilt collapsed driveways, cleaned up years of erosion, and fixed culvert jobs that should’ve never passed inspection. You don’t need a patch job. You need someone who actually knows what they’re doing.