The Street Department receives many telephone calls from homeowners about the condition of the culvert under their driveway. The driveway and culvert belong to the homeowner.  The only time the City will reset/replace it will be if it is part of a larger stormwater project and resetting/replacing it improves the water flow.  If City crews find that the culvert is either rusted out, bent, or crushed in any way, it will be replaced and the resident will be assessed the replacement cost.  Also, if culvert did not have concrete endwalls they will be installed at the resident's expense.  If you find that your culvert is rusted out, and or you do not have concrete/masonry endwalls on it, you will have to contact a private contractor for repairs.  Please contact the Inspection department for a culvert permit prior to starting any work on it.

Snow Problems

The Highway Department would appreciate citizens' help in assuring that winter snow and debris does not accumulate to block culverts and drain grates. Your assistance in removing this snow and debris will go a long way in helping to eliminate any flooding problems which inconvenience many each year.

Inverts & Culverts

There is always a great deal of concern regarding roadside ditches.One of the main functions of these ditches is to provide drainage for the road surface. When a ditch doesn't function properly, it is almost always because of either blockage caused by debris or improper slope.

Blockages can usually be solved by the homeowner, but when it comes to changing the grade of the ditch, professional assistance is required.

To achieve proper drainage in a ditch, a 1% slope is usually required. When this is not possible or when the slope exceeds 4%, concrete invert may be installed in certain circumstances. This invert lines the bottom of the ditch and aids the flow of water when slopes are less than 1% and helps protect the ditch from scouring when slopes exceed 4%.

Invert Lining Policy               Asphalt Upgrade Policy

Please contact the Engineering Department at 262-797-2445 for additional information.

If it is found necessary to reditch a whole block to improve drainage, the Highway Department will normally perform the work. They will reset and realign the culverts in order to provide proper drainage.

The homeowner is responsible for culvert placement and maintenance. A permit is required: $150 for a new driveway/culvert, no charge for replacement culvert. Culverts on county highways require a permit from Waukesha County. All other culvert permits are processed by Engineering Department, who will size the culvert and set stakes for line and grade.

In the event the culvert must be replaced by the City, for any reason, the cost of materials is charged to the property owner. 

Click here for the Culvert Replacement Policy 

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