On a suburban street in Torquay, Nick and his team replaced a cracked, uneven footpath and the driveway crossover in front of a home that had just had a new plain concrete driveway put in. This was the second stage of the owners’ upgrade, bringing the street frontage up to the same standard as the driveway behind it. The job covered new kerbing and channel work, a new crossover and footpath, and level setting to create a smooth transition from the property through to the road.
Before: The Problem with the Old Footpath and Crossover
The owners had recently finished their new driveway, but the footpath and crossover out the front were still the originals. The footpath had cracked and lifted in places, leaving an uneven surface that was easy to trip on for anyone walking past.
With a fresh driveway behind it, the old concrete also stood out. The crossover is the first part of the property people drive over, and a tired, broken section at the street undid some of the work the owners had just put into the front of their home.
They wanted a footpath that was safe and even to walk on, a crossover that tied neatly into the new driveway, and a frontage that looked finished from the street.
Project Details: How We Transformed the Footpath and Crossover
The goal was a new concrete driveway crossover and footpath that would sit flush with the new driveway, handle cars and foot traffic every day, and direct water to the road.
Council Approval and Working Around the Neighbours
Because the crossover and footpath sit within the council road reserve, Surf Coast Shire requires a works within road reserve permit before any work starts, so approval was in place before the old concrete came out. The footpath is also a shared space, which meant Nick and his team coordinated with the neighbours throughout the job. The work area was taped off and coned so people walking along the street could get past safely while the new concrete went in and cured.
Preparing the Base and Setting the Levels
The old, damaged footpath was removed rather than patched, as the cracking and lifting were beyond a surface fix. Our guide to fixing cracked concrete explains when repair is enough and when replacement is the better call. With the old concrete gone, the team prepared the base, set up the formwork, and laid steel reinforcing mesh on bar chairs. Levels were set carefully so the new footpath and crossover would meet the finished driveway on one side and the road on the other without a step or dip.
Kerb, Channel and Crossover
New plain concrete kerbing and channel work went in along the frontage, shaped and finished to give clean edges and effective surface drainage. Control joints were cut into the footpath and crossover to help manage movement over time, which keeps cracking in check rather than leaving it to happen at random.
The Finished Result
The footpath is now flat, even and safe to walk on, and the crossover gives the owners a smooth, durable entry from the road onto their new driveway. With both stages complete, the whole frontage reads as one finished job, from the kerb through to the house.
Planning a Crossover or Footpath Upgrade?
If your driveway is done but the crossover or footpath out the front is letting it down, Nick can talk you through what’s involved, including council approval, before any work starts. He and his team complete concreting in Torquay and across the Surf Coast.
Call Nick for a free quote on (03) 5292 1455 or send through your project details.
