Do-it-yourself roadside barrier

Old_Wanker · Apr 14, 2002

Alright Im tired of almost getting hit by cars on the road that runs along one edge of the property. Seems some of the people moving in the new houses going up dont know much respect when it comes to driving country roads. One of them almost took me out last summer and ended up on the grass and then took off without saying anything. Two more ruts to fill in.

Have any of you installed roadside barriers? Im thinking of putting some big boulders down there but dont want a lawsuit on my hands when some fancy car wraps itself around one of my rocks. Another idea is putting in some pressure treated 9 inch square posts a few feet deep and runnin 2x10 PT between them. Im open to ideas but am tired of the cars for sure.

RobS · Apr 14, 2002

Better check with your county road department OW. When we got our driveway permit there was a long list of do's and don'ts for mailboxes, culvert etc. For example, nothing bigger than a 4X4 for a solid mailbox post. Anything bigger has to be hollow. No headwalls on culverts. The county we currently live in has just outlawed masonry mailboxes which nearly every subdivision home has. Obviously, they are trying to minimize injury to the numbskulls who can't keep their car on the road. I don't agree with the rules, but don't want to risk penalties for not following.

Besides, you may luck out and get some useful ideas from them /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Thomas · Apr 15, 2002

You may want to contact your town or highway department for the rules etc..for if someone hits the rocks etc... you could be suit..lot of suit happy nuts out there.

In our state we have what they call highway right of way...so many feet from the center line.

You seem like a pleasant person,but the next time someone drives to darn close or puts you off the road,I would call your local police department.

b249 · Apr 15, 2002

I would consider an earth berm placed outsid the right of way. Michigans secondary road right of ways are 33' either side of the center line. I agree w/ the other post...contact your local road commision to determine the right of way distance and other dos/don'ts. An earth berm would provide a more gradual decel of the the vehicle/occupants than would the boulders thus reuduceing the injury potential.

hope this helps,

b249

Old_Wanker · Apr 15, 2002

Thats a good point about the right of way. Thats one of the things Im concerned about. Youd think that with me keeping the right of way clear all these years theyd at least let me put some nice boulders there but maybe not.

MossRoad · Apr 15, 2002

I didn't realize we couldn't install brick mailboxes anymore. Makes sense along a high speed road, but in a neighborhood where the speed limit low, I don't know. I'd never want one just because somone would eventually hit it and I'd be out big bucks to replace it.

pennwalk · Apr 15, 2002

My mother in law's church is out in the country on a beautiful little tree lined road. PennDOT came along and started cut down the 150 year old maple trees. They got about half way down the road the last time I was there. Seems they decided that the trees were a danger to motorists. Seems like it is too much to ask drivers to have a little sense and slow down. The safer they make it the stupider people act.

Chris

pennwalk · Apr 15, 2002

My dad got tired of all the tire tracks across his front yard and put in head sized rocks and steel stakes. Seemed to keep most of the cars out of the yard but it looked kind of bad. If you put up a fence type barrier someone will hit it then you will have to fix it. Cars shear off telephone poles. The berm sounds good but if it has to be off the right of way it will be in the middle of your yard.

Chris