Side Ditches

For collecting water from the roadbed side ditches, flumes, interceptor ditches and drain channeling can be used. Present road construction provides side ditches parallel with the roadway. A side ditch is intended to collect the water discharged by the crown. It also collects the water from the roadside. Water from the adjoining land must be collected by the side ditch too. The side ditch discharges into a natural outlet at the first opportunity.

Side ditches in cuttings and next to embankments may be excavated to a depth of up to 0.6 m. These ditches are for the collection of water flowing off the road surface and from adjoining land during rainfall or snow thawing. The side ditch may contribute to the drainage of the subgrade because of the evaporation of moisture from the side ditch inner slopes. However, the major use of the side ditch is to permit the rapid discharge of water. When this water discharge is not ensured and ponding occurs, the side ditch becomes a source from which water may penetrate back under the road, resulting in saturation of the subgrade.

Source: Английский язык. Контрольные задания. / Л.В. Лукина, Л.Н. Крячко, О.Ф. Нестерова, Н.В.Сидорова. Воронеж: Воронеж. гос. арх.-строит. ун.-т., 2009 – C.73-74