Why Gravel Driveways Are Best for Central Wisconsin Winters

Living in Central Wisconsin means dealing with weather extremes. We see the results every spring: paved driveways that look like jigsaw puzzles after a hard winter.

If you are looking for a reliable driveway surface that can actually handle our climate without breaking the bank, gravel is often the smarter choice. At A&C Excavating Equipment, we install high-quality gravel driveways throughout Medford, and central Wisconsin that are built to perform year-round.

While asphalt might look sleek on day one, gravel offers distinct advantages for rural and suburban properties in our region.

Winning the Battle Against Frost Heaves

The biggest enemy of any driveway in Wisconsin is the freeze/thaw cycle. When moisture in the ground freezes, it expands and heaves upward with incredible force.

Asphalt and concrete are rigid surfaces. When the ground beneath them heaves unevenly, they have no choice but to crack. Once cracked, water gets in, freezes again, and makes the damage worse.

A gravel driveway is flexible. It is designed to move with the frost. If the ground shifts over winter, the gravel shifts with it. If a low spot or rut develops during the spring thaw, it is an easy, inexpensive fix with a grader blade—far cheaper than cutting out and repatching failed asphalt.

Handling Heavy Clay and Runoff

Many properties around Stetsonville and Medford sit on heavy clay soil that traps water. A driveway built over clay needs serious preparation.

If you just dump rock on top of dirt, you will end up with a mud pit by April. A proper gravel installation involves excavating poor soil, building a solid sub-base of larger stone, and finishing with a top layer of crusher run or decorative gravel.

Crucially, we grade the driveway with a proper "crown" (higher in the center than the edges). This forces rainwater and snowmelt to shed off into ditches rather than pooling in the middle of your drive.

Project Spotlight: Stetsonville Driveway Resurface

We came in, re-established the subgrade to fix the drainage issues, and brought in fresh, high-quality compactable gravel. We spread and compacted it, ensuring a smooth finish tailored to the slope of the land.

What About Snow Plowing?

The biggest hesitation many homeowners have regarding gravel is winter maintenance. People worry about plowing their rocks into the lawn.

The trick is simple: let the driveway freeze solid before the first heavy plowing, or set your plow shoes slightly higher to leave an inch of snowpack. Once that base layer is frozen, a gravel driveway is just as easy to clear as blacktop.

Build a Base That Lasts

For long rural driveways, gravel provides an unbeatable balance of durability and cost-effectiveness compared to paving.

Don't let another winter destroy your driveway. If you need a new install or a repair on an existing surface, contact A&C Excavating Equipment today. We’ll assess your soil, recommend the right material, and build a base that lasts.