Culvert Rehabilitation
When storms, heavy rain, and snow melt occur, the layman may not think much of it. Why is that? It’s because culverts silently work to keep this excess water off our roads. Local municipalities, infrastructure management, and local DOTs (Department of Transportation), however, are painfully aware of what this excess water can do to culverts, especially those that are aged or damaged. When deteriorated culverts face heavy water exposure and other destructive factors, the damage caused can leave culverts in disrepair. These structures require regular maintenance to prevent worsening damage. Culvert rehab from USG can rescue aging culverts from deterioration and more costly or disruptive repairs down the road. Continue reading to learn the problems faced by damaged culverts, how we find them, and how our team can help with culvert rehabilitation.
How USG Assesses Culverts
Before any repair or maintenance on a culvert can take place, a thorough assessment must be performed. At USG, the primary component of our assessments is NASSCO-Certified CCTV inspections. Our team chooses from a fleet of advanced robotic cameras which move through the culvert and broadcast from inside the culvert to a TV where one of employees identifies cracks, inflow and infiltration, and other damage. This damage is notated in accordance with NASSCO standards. NASSCO provides a consistent coding system and inspection methodology that ensures every defect is identified using a consistent language. This helps the team collect data that is both reliable and standardized.
How Culvert Damage Rears its Ugly Head
Culvert damage can show up in many forms. Here are some signs of damage that occurs in culverts:
- Cracks: Cracks can allow groundwater to flow in, which is called inflow and infiltration. Cracks can also allow water flowing through the culvert to escape, potentially washing away support soils.
- Leaks: Leaks in a culvert may occur both inside or outside the structure.
- Uneven Joints: Joints that are uneven within the culvert point to soil loss occurring beneath the structure. This can also disrupt the flow of water and lead to potential blockages.
- Sinking Structures Aboveground: Concrete or asphalt structures above or near the culvert may begin sinking or cracking.
Polyurethane Injection Culvert Rehabilitation
Culvert rehabilitation does not need to be disruptive or complex to be effective. Polyurethane injection offers a proven approach for addressing common culvert issues by sealing defects, stopping infiltration, and preventing ongoing soil loss. A thorough evaluation is conducted to identify areas of concern and determine the most effective injection strategy. Based on site conditions, access points may be established above ground over the culvert or directly through the culvert structure from within.
Once access is prepared, injection ports are installed, and polyurethane is introduced in liquid form. As the material reacts, it expands into a foam that seals cracks and joints while creating a barrier against water and soil intrusion. At the same time, the expanding material fills surrounding voids and bonds with adjacent soils, restoring subsurface support and reducing the risk of future settlement or sinkhole development.
Other Culvert Repair Methods
Beyond soil stabilization and leak mitigation, USG also offers in-place rehabilitation options for the culvert structure itself, helping asset owners extend service life and maximize maintenance budgets. Depending on the condition of the culvert, solutions may include corrosion-resistant epoxy coatings, micro-silica enhanced high-strength concrete, geopolymer linings, or a tailored combination of methods. While these approaches do not involve full pipe replacement, they provide durable, long-term rehabilitation solutions designed to restore performance and structural integrity.
USG: The Intersection of People, Safety, Service, and Technology
Culverts are important pieces of infrastructure, and at USG, we prioritize the condition of all local infrastructure. Our culvert rehab services combines expertise, high standards, and high-quality products to help extend the lifespan of culverts. Call us today and schedule your culvert services.