A Survey of Acidity in Drainage Waters and the Condition of Highway Drainage Installations

During the summer of 1949, approximately one year after installation, serious corrosion failures were discovered in a series of galvanized metal entrance culverts on U.S. 60 south of Ashland near Princess. Because of a unique disparity in their performance at this location, the problem was referred to the Research Division for possible explanation. An impromptu investigation ensued, and the cause of the failure was attributed directly to acid drainage water flowing from extensive strip-mining operations within the immediate area. A report (1)* describing the attendant conditions was made to the Research Committee in December of that year. As an outgrowth of those findings and as a precaution against future recurrences, the Committee directed that a state-wide survey be made to determine whether drainage of this type would constitute a real problem in other parts of the state; and if so, to determine whether these corrosive conditions would be naturally restricted to particular areas within which it would be advantageous to require the use of acid resistant materials. Both of these provisions, of course, were somewhat contingent upon an inventory appraisal of in-service culverts and of necessity both phases would have to be conducted concurrently