Excavator Work: Undercutting Mud and Building a Raised Road

Road Construction and Mud Removal

• 🚜 The primary goal is to undercut a significant amount of mud and haul in better clay to raise the road elevation.
• 💡 This process aims to get the road out of a ditch and higher than the surrounding runoff to improve passage through wet areas.
• 🚧 Approximately five to six feet of dirt will be added to the undercut section.

Material Hauling and Placement

• 🚚 Excavated mud and topsoil are being loaded out and hauled to a borrow pit to dig out drier clay.
• ⚡ The 350 excavator is being used for faster loading of trucks, making the process more efficient.
• ⚠️ Trucks are being loaded lighter to avoid strain on the vehicle when climbing a steep hill.

Base Layer and Road Capping

• 🧱 A base layer of white, silty clay is being used, which is hard and packs well but is not ideal for the top layer due to its silty nature.
• ✨ The plan is to cap this base layer with a nicer red clay to ensure better bonding and prevent slipping, especially on inclines.
• ⛰️ The red clay is expected to provide plasticity, helping to bond the materials together effectively.

Pit Filling and Site Management

• 🕳️ A large pit was dug to extract base material and is now being filled with undercut material, roots, and other debris.
• 🔥 The possibility of burning a brush pile is mentioned, which could open up the area and provide material for future fills.
• 🪵 Logs are being set aside for burning rather than burying.

Progress and Future Plans

• ✅ Significant progress has been made, with a large amount of dirt moved, the road raised, and a base layer established.
• 🌧️ The area is being prepared for expected rain, with a skim coat of stone being rolled in to seal the surface.
• ➡️ Future plans include undercutting another area, finishing a ridge cut, and extending the road towards the creek.