Driveway install - Short site lines. Need alternatives to improve safety.

[Dadnatron]

This particular stretch does not lend itself to 'bat out of ****' driving, although I am certain there are a few who try. Other roads in the vicinity are traveled far more than this particular road and at much higher speeds. But, honestly, if you are coming up on a car heading in the opposite direction, both of you are riding the edge of the pavement with your passenger side wheels, just to sneek by. Add to that all the turns and hills which block sight along with the trees 3ft off the paved road, and top it off with all the dualies pulling horse trailers on this road, and the speed really can't be that fast. BUT... that doesn't mean much to that one idiot who happens by at an inopportune moment.

I need to contact the County and ask them. I suspect they will be my biggest factor in driveway placement.

 

[GLyford]

If you put the driveway right at the corner would you be able to see down both straight sections, or neither?

 

[Dadnatron]

If you put the driveway right at the corner would you be able to see down both straight sections, or neither?

Neither... there are trees along both which would preclude seeing anything until you were on the road completely.... I thought of this and stood on the shoulder.

 

[Dadnatron]

Was able to get in touch with the County Road Engineer, nice guy... Every County agent I've met has been very helpful.

He said they 'try' to get 300ft visibility in both directions, but can't sometimes. He thinks we can get it close to where I want it to be.

Going to set up a meeting and see what he says while on the property.

Thanks for your help.

 

[dragoneggs]

Was able to get in touch with the County Road Engineer, nice guy... Every County agent I've met has been very helpful. He said they 'try' to get 300ft visibility in both directions, but can't sometimes. He thinks we can get it close to where I want it to be. Going to set up a meeting and see what he says while on the property. Thanks for your help.

Good luck with your meeting. Sounds like 300ft is plenty to me. At 35mph (51fps) you have about 6 seconds. Go out and time yourself for a stop at 35mph. I'm guessing you do it with a couple seconds to spare.

 

[12Bravo]

Have you thought about moving a little further down past the Black T you placed and having the drive follow the tree line?

 

[flusher]

Driveway sight lines are an important issue. There are others such as these that I had to follow when I had my 20 ft wide x 330 ft long gravel driveway installed at my former ranch in Tehama County, CA.

The gravel driveway had to be connected to the paved county road by paving the last 20 ft of driveway and including "wing" connections where the driveway met the road.


9.14.030 - Driveways.

    
All driveways shall provide a minimum ten foot traffic lane and unobstructed vertical clearance of fifteen feet along its entire length.

A.

Driveways exceeding one hundred fifty feet in length, but less than eight hundred feet in length, shall provide a turnout near the midpoint of the driveway. Where the driveway exceeds eight hundred feet, turnouts shall be provided no more than four hundred feet apart.

B.

A turnaround shall be provided at all building sites on driveways over three hundred feet in length, and shall be within fifty feet of the building.


(Ord. 1537 § 1(part), 1991)


9.14.031 - Gate entrances.


A.

Gate entrances will be at least two feet wider than the width of traffic lane(s) serving that gate.

B.

All gates providing access from a road to a driveway shall be located at least thirty feet from the roadway and shall open to allow a vehicle to stop without obstructing traffic on that road.

C.

Where a one-way road with a single traffic lane provides access to a gated entrance, a forty foot turning radius shall be used.

(Ord. 1537 § 1(part), 1991)

Good luck

 

[dstig1]

Maybe you already have resolved this point, but you need to know who has jurisdiction over the road. It depends on "whose road it is" here. If it is a State Hwy, County road, or township/city road, the requirements are all a bit different and so is who you have to ask for the permit. So that might be a good first question to ask the county engineer when you meet him. Assuming can get to be expensive if you assume wrong...but if you already know the answer, then you should be good to go. Just making sure...

 

[Dadnatron]

Who is responsible for the road is a very good point.

My property is on 2 different roads. One is County (this one) and the other end abuts a State road. The other end of the property already has an access point in about as good a location as is possible, although not great. This portion does not have access in that we are sectioning off about half the land of a previous 'block'. The old place had 2 access points, in good locations, but we are only taking land consisting of one. The other access will remain with the initial owner. (and when I say initial... this land has not left the family since it was granted to the family line in 1776)

As far as access, the County Engineer seemed to really understand the difficulties with the roads in this area. There are hills and turns with entrances all over the place which wouldn't be allowed given the 'code'. But the 'code' would basically cut out access to 50% of all land simply because there isn't enough space to follow a blind piece of paper.

I'll meet with him and see what happens.

 

[Dadnatron]

Flusher... I appreciate the information.

I know I need to plan turnouts because it is likely this driveway, even just to the house, will be over 1000ft at least.

I've been trying to decide on the width... ANY SUGGESTIONS?