Raising level of asphalt driveway

[jpwolfe31]

I need to raise the grade on an asphalt driveway approximately 2 feet. The driveway is 100 feet in length and slopes down at about 17 degrees. Can I crush the existing asphalt and use the crushed material as a base with an additional 2 feet of 3/4" angled crushed stone. I would like to leave the asphalt in place if possible rather than incur the costs of removal and substitute material. If this is possible, what is the best method to properly prepare the old asphault with commonly available construction equipment - such as a front loader, backhoe, etc.?

Thanks

 

[CarlB]

Wow 17 degrees, that's steep, I hope you mean 17 percent (which still is steep but not nearly as bad as 17 degrees/30 percent). As much as you're aising it I don't see why you just can't fill over the existing pavement. Not steep enough to worry about fill slipping on tha asphalt interface. Still it would be nice to break it up some, to allow water to pass through if it gets in there. A backhoe with teeth could break it up though you might ask a contractor.
Depend on material costs you may not have to use all crushed stonefill, if you have pit run gravel available could use that, maybe just 2"- 4" crushed stone under the pavement.
That's my shot at it without knowing other important particulars, such as terrain, climate, available materials, etc.
Carl

That's my

 

[jpwolfe31]

The slope really is 17 degrees - 30 percent. The driveway is in a hilly area.

 

[jheidt2543]

Talk to your local paving contractor. He may have or be able to rent a "knife edge" paving breaker that could crush the asphalt paving in place. I hope you are not in snow country, that is one steep driveway. Shoveling would be bad enough but, trying to drive up it in the winter - whoa!

 

[jpwolfe31]

Very helpful adivce. The driveway is in sunny San Francisco. No snow or freezes to speak of.

 

[Jim6758]

You would do well to plot the intersection of the driveway and street on graph paper and cut a model of an automobile and see if the the bumpers will drag. Subtract the crown of the street(usually negative value) from the slope of the driveway. If the value exceeds 15%, you are likely to drag the bumper on a standard size automobile. If you plan on getting a car up the driveway, you may have to go up in stages to avoid bumper dragging.