Thanks - you’re right, they probably would do that, as the ditch is clearly within their right-of-way.I bet VDOT would bring a backhoe out and scratch that ditch a bit deeper. I would venture to say that part of the road ditch technically belongs to them per right-of-way.
However, I’m reluctant to ask them to do so, because I’m afraid that they could wind up making it worse. The fact that they left it the way that they did is not a positive sign.
In truth, I’m looking at this as a rock wall project that will open up the culvert in the process. I want to be able to find enough suitably large rocks to build proper retaining walls at the culvert openings. I already have my eye on a number of them, some of which are at the bottom of the ditch on the inlet side. If a backhoe gets in there, many of the choice rocks might get covered up.
Digging out around the culvert where the actual walls will go is probably best done by hand anyway.
Ideally, said walls would be concrete, but VDOT isn’t going to do that; nor are they going to build rock walls. Hence, it’s my project, at least for now.
Good idea! Fortunately the deformation is just at the end, and so shouldn’t be too tough to reshape.Edit: Bottle jack and a some cribbing might help reshape your inlet.