Pros and cons of living at the end of a dead end road

[TomSeller]

I've learned over the years that there are three type of people out here (when I see someone in a vehicle)

1. They are expected visitors (cause NOBODY 'just happens' to be in our area)
2. They are out exploring (and by the time I see them, they are treaspassing on the farm)
3. They are up to no good
.

That about sums it up. I ended up after many years putting a gate at the end of the county road. That solved the problem except for a few solicitors who climb the gate and walk the 1/2 mile. I still get people parking in the turn around at the end of the county road. Weekend evenings it is horn dog kids. Other times it seems like people, usually men, cooling off after a fight or just getting way from something. Never seem to bother anything, then are gone in a few hours.

 

[MossRoad]

If they're going to never replace the bridge, or possibly replace it in several years, ask them to put in a LARGE circle so the snow plow and school bus can turn around without using your driveway and without having to do a 3pt turn. I'd also ask them to put up dead end signs not only at the first turn onto the road, but at your property line as well, so maybe, just maybe, folks will turn around before they get down to your driveway.

I would be concerned about a road dead ending in front of my property. Nothing to prevent people from parking on the road (not on your property) and going fishing, which in itself is not bad, but they will inevitably start leaving trash, dumping, partying, etc.... lots to be concerned about.

Given a choice, though, I'd much rather live on a dead end than a corner.

 

[MossRoad]

.... Never seem to bother anything, then are gone in a few hours.

That's all the time it takes to cook a shake and bake batch of meth....

 

[Sprinklerman]

I lived at the end of a dead end road , there was a guard rail at the end blocking the old road . The state had to replace it twice a year because people thought the road still went thru , and they would hit it in the dark . I had somebody got beaten up and they dropped him at the end of my driveway .( he was drunk or stoned) . And on occasion when I got home late there
would be a car parked with steamed up windows by my mailbox . ( Thats when I hit the high beams and HAD to slowly check my mail box for mail ) Besides that it was pretty quiet .

 

[TomSeller]

That's all the time it takes to cook a shake and bake batch of meth....

That and I think some of them have a girly magazine and are ..... never mind.

 

[MossRoad]

That and I think some of them have a girly magazine and are ..... never mind.

Probably a good decision....

 

[quicksandfarmer]

My house is on a dead-end road, I've got five houses past me. In general it's peaceful. However:
* The mailman doesn't go past my house, I've got six mailboxes at the end of my driveway, my neighbors have to drive up to my house to get their mail.
* Whenever power or phone goes out in a big storm we're always the last to be fixed, because so few people are affected. The further down the road you are the worse it is.
* Deliveries can be a pain (although I've never had a driver refuse a tip).
* Google maps shows our road as a through road, connecting to the next town. At one time it did connect, I have a map from 1675 that shows the road, but the 1870 map doesn't have it. Google also shows my driveway as a road. So during tourist season I get a lot of people coming down the road, going past my house to the end, coming back five minutes later and driving down my driveway. It's amazing how snippy they can get when I tell them they need to go back to the highway and drive around.

 

[soilsailor]

Thanks to all that have provided your insights. I certainly appreciate it.

Here is a status update.

I attended the county Board of Supervisors meeting this morning. This bridge closure was on the agenda as part of the county engineer's draft 5 year plan. The final version is due to the Iowa DoT by April 15. The county has about 270 bridges and must replace 6-8 bridges per year just to maintain parity with the aging bridges. The deferred maintenance backlog is pretty significant.

Also in attendance was my future neighbors about a mile to the west (on the same side of the bridge as I am). They strongly support bridge closure to limit traffic past their place. Long story short, I also see more benefits to closing the bridge then keeping it open. I expressed my concerns for a safe way to turn a school bus and road grader around - to which the Supervisor's agreed and asked the county engineer to address. We will see where this goes - but over all I found the meeting very positive.

The county engineer also reported on the other public input that he received prior to the meeting - most of my neighbors agree that bridge closure is desired. Jury is still out if the bridge will be open for foot traffic, and if it does, what liabilities the county will have.

 

[Looking4new]

I am the third to last place on a dead end road and I absolutely love it. I value my privacy and love the solitude. You can't see the house because of all the trees and there is a crook in the lane. When you look up the driveway you can see my sheds, that's it.

I will not say I am anti-social, but if you show up here unexpected (in the neighbourhood and decided to drop by) you will get run off. I kick people off here about three times a year, usually they are selling religion. The conversation usuall goes like this;
Me: Hi, did you phone here first to let me know you were coming out?
Them: No, we don't have your number.
Me: Then you are not expected and not welcome, please leave.
Them: We are promoting whatever.
Me: Maybe you should go back to school and learn what signs that say 'NO TRESPASSING' mean. Get out! N O W!
They usually leave. If not, then I just call the cops and let them deal with the people. I supply the license plate number and description of the vehicle.

 

[RalphVa]

We're at the end of a paved road. It's good. Hardly any traffic.

I work naked and often go down the driveway to do some maintenance or to check on things. No one to see me.

My neighbor (who also works naked) and I have tractors to plow out the snow, etc.

Ralph