CULVERT MAINTENANCE ISSUES

1. Cleaning and Painting

It is necessary to clean culverts before painting, to remove rust, dirt, and debris.
Recommendations: use phosphoric acid solutions to clean the affected areas.
The application of a zinc plombate primer on cleaned and dried surfaces is
recommended before application of a durable paint.
Cleaned surfaces are to be coated with two coats of single component inorganic zinc
or organic zinc-rich paint.
The protection provided to pipe depends largely on environmental factors and hence
local experience may determine its effectiveness.

2. Invert Paving
Metal culverts galvanized or coated with asphalt or any other type of protective
coating are found unsuitable under high abrasive conditions, and
Culvert pipe inverts are paved with asphalt cement, asphalt concrete, cement mortar,
or concrete.
When effluent has a pH of 5 or less, protective measures are generally required.
A paving thickness of 75 to 150 mm is recommended, based on the abrasiveness of
the site.
Paving limits typically varying from 90 to 120 for the internal angle.

3. Slip Lining
This method involves sliding a new culvert inside an existing distressed culvert and is an
alternative to total replacement. It is much faster than is the remove and replace option,
and it often yields a signicant extension of service life at a lower cost and disruption
compared with complete replacement (18). Acceptance of the slip-lining process by the
industry as a solution to problems associated with corrosion of pipelines has led to an
increasing demand for nonstructural lining techniques (1). A wide range of choices is
available for culvert slip lining. The sections can be handled easily compared with longer
CSCP sections, and they can be connected inside the culvert. The following is a list of
slip-lining options (1, 18):
Plastic pipes,
Corrugated metal pipes,
Fiberglass-reinforced cement, and
Fiberglass-reinforced plastic.

4. In Situ Cured Liners

In situ cured liners are made by applying the raw lining material to the appropriately
prepared surface of existing pipe and allowing the material to cure. This is achieved by
natural or accelerated means. It is usually applicable for larger diameter and short section.
The following are the most commonly used in situ cured liners (1, 18, 20): cement mortar
lining and cured-in-place liners.

5. In Situ Pipe Replacement

In this option, replacement techniques refer to the removal of the existing culvert and
installation of the new culvert with little or no new excavation. Typically, the new culvert
is being installed while the old culvert is being removed. By necessity, these liner culverts
have a smaller diameter than does the original culvert, but enhanced hydraulic
characteristics. Their ability to be used in corrosive environments has made these culverts
more popular. However, to date, little experience has been documented. In situ pipe
replacement is becoming popular because it facilitates the installation of more durable
and hydraulically efficient culverts. At present, such systems may require a high initial
investment, but the benets may far outweigh the cost of replacement through
excavation. The following are commonly used in situ pipe replacement options (21):
Pipe splitting,
Pipe eating,
Pipe reaming, and
Slip lining with polymer pipe