Built to Last From the Base Up

When your driveway shows washouts along the edges or soft spots that pool water after every storm, it usually means the base has settled unevenly or was never built with enough depth to handle seasonal freezing. In Pownal, where frost heave and spring runoff test every surface, you need a driveway that drains properly and holds firm year after year. McGovern Earthworks builds new driveways and repairs failing ones using excavation methods that account for soil type, slope, and long-term settling.

A new driveway starts with excavation to remove unstable soil, followed by graded layers of compacted gravel that create a stable base and direct water away from the surface. Repairs involve regrading sunken sections, rebuilding washout areas, and adding material where the original base was too thin. Both residential and rural properties benefit from this approach, especially when access roads cross sloped or wooded terrain. The result is a surface that supports vehicle weight without cracking, rutting, or forming standing water.

If your driveway needs rebuilding or you are planning a new installation in Pownal, McGovern Earthworks can walk the site and explain what the ground requires.

What the work includes and how the surface holds up

Installation begins with clearing the path, excavating to a depth that allows for proper base layers, and setting the grade so water moves off the surface instead of soaking into it. In Pownal, where properties often sit on sloped or wooded lots, the excavation may include cutting into a hillside or building up low areas to keep the driveway level and stable. Gravel is spread in lifts and compacted with a roller or plate compactor to prevent future settling.

After the work is complete, you will see a firm surface that does not shift under tires, clear drainage paths along both edges, and no soft zones where water used to collect. The gravel base stays in place through freeze and thaw cycles because it was installed at the right depth and compacted in stages. Driveways built this way typically require only occasional topdressing rather than full reconstruction.

Repairs follow a similar process but focus on the damaged sections, whether that means regrading a sunken entrance, rebuilding a washed-out shoulder, or adding thickness where the original base was insufficient. The scope depends on how much of the driveway has failed and what is causing the problem. McGovern Earthworks evaluates the existing surface and explains what needs to be rebuilt versus what can be regraded and reinforced.

Homeowners usually want to know how long the work takes, what happens to the old material, and whether the new surface will handle their specific drainage issues.

McGovern Earthworks handles both new driveway construction and targeted repairs across residential and rural properties in Pownal, using equipment sized for tight access roads and wooded lots. If your driveway is showing signs of failure or you are planning a new installation, the team can assess the site and outline what the ground needs to support long-term use.