Steep Driveway Regrade & Drainage Solution in Cottage Grove, Oregon
A safer, more reliable driveway built for year-round access.
Steep Driveway Regrade & Drainage Solution in Cottage Grove, Oregon
A safer, more reliable driveway built for year-round access.
Steep Driveway Regrade & Drainage Solution in Cottage Grove, Oregon
Ever worry your driveway won’t be usable in winter?
That was exactly the concern for this homeowner.
They reached out because their steep driveway couldn’t safely handle their lowered Camaro or large commercial truck during the winter months.
Poor water runoff, a steep grade, and tight access made the driveway slick, unstable, and unreliable—especially during rain and ice.
If you’ve ever wondered “Is this driveway even fixable?” — this project is proof that it is.
Before
After
At first glance, the issue looked like traction.
But once we evaluated the property, it became clear the bigger problem was grade and drainage.
The driveway was too steep
Water had nowhere to properly go
Past cuts into the hillside had created unstable slopes
Vehicles were sliding during winter turns
Sound familiar?
We began this project from the bottom of the driveway, working our way up—because long-term results start with the right foundation.
We removed several trees and ground the stumps, which allowed us to shift the driveway location enough to install a proper drainage ditch.
This gave water a controlled path instead of letting it run across the drive.
Once the alignment was corrected, we cut the first section of the grade down significantly, making the approach safer for low-clearance vehicles and heavy trucks.
We widened the driveway all the way up, creating consistent ditch lines and improving runoff management along the entire length.
This step alone dramatically improved year-round usability.
One section of hillside had been cut back improperly years prior and had begun to fail.
Instead of patching it, we:
Sloped the hillside back to a safe, stable angle
Eliminated the risk of future major failure
Protected both the driveway and surrounding property
If you’ve ever worried about a slope “slowly creeping,” this is exactly why proper grading matters.
At the house, the driveway split—and this was where the biggest issue occurred.
The customer shared that their commercial truck had slid off the road multiple times in winter while trying to make the turn.
That’s not an inconvenience. That’s a safety risk.
Our Solution:
Lessened the grade at the turn
Widened the corner significantly
Built the area out using multiple lifts of rock
Compacted each layer properly for strength and longevity
The result?
A stable, wide, low-grade turn that vehicles can navigate safely—even in winter.
Project Overview
Location: Cottage Grove, Oregon
Service Type: Driveway Grading & Drainage Improvement
Project Type: Steep Driveway Regrade & Access Correction
Completed In: Approximately Two Weeks
Key Focus:
Steep driveway grade reduction
Drainage and runoff correction
Driveway widening for safer access
Hillside stabilization
Improved winter and year-round usability