Laneway repair and speed bumps

[Tig]

I'm in the midst of major lane way repairs. I'm looking for advice to keep speed on my gravel right of way down to about 15 MPH on a one hundred yard stretch.
My place is adjacent to a community where I grew up. My right of way crosses the yard of a dear 96 year old lady. She uses a walker to get around outside. The right of way is so close to her house you could touch the garage as you drive by. The lane way is also used by pedestrian traffic from the boys home which is a family business started by her late husband.
The right of way is shared by 6 parties. I would be the only full time resident. Two are weekend users year round. One place is up for sale and another is summer use only. The last place is a camp that is closed six months of the year. The lane is also th amost convenient path to the lake from the village during ice fishing season. I have no way of controlling who uses this private right of way.
I have spoken with the lady's daughter who explained her mother's previous views on laneway repair. In the past the right of way was abused by people speeding and driving recklessly. The last time someone tried to fix the lane way the dear old lady stood behind the dump truck and refused to move so it could dump gravel. A rough lane way discourages traffic and keeps speed down.
The stretch past her house is real bad and cars bottom out. I would like cars and emergency service vehicles to be able to pass but I would never consider legal action in this scenario. This is my community and I respect her right to enjoy her property. I want to come up with some sort of controlled access plan to reassure her family (and me) that she will not be endangered or bothered by traffic. My wife and I visited with the lady this morning but did not discuss lane way repair because I want to get the speed control issue clear in my head and roughly documented first. Once that is done I want her daughter to participate in the discussion to represent her mother's best interests.
The options I see are speed bumps and perhaps a gate just beyond the edge of her property.
How big should speed bumps be and how far apart? I could make them from gravel or I could use a couple concrete curb stones that I have. I'm leaning towards gravel so that they can easily be adjusted as the road wears in.
Thoughts experience and suggestions are appreciated on how to control speed.

 

[DGS]

Hello TIG
I also live in Canada
I also live on a private road (ROW)
When i purchased my property in 1974 there was 3 of 27 properties yhat were full time residents so there was no problems
Now we have every owner their kids their grand-kids,great grand-kids ,tou get the picture
We are all according to what is on our deeds responsiblle for the up keep of this road and have to contribute to this
RIGHT!!!!
These people use this road as if it is there private park and 401 highway combined
I got an opinion from a proprty lawyer who told me not to put anything in or on the road that would slow traffic as if there was any damage to there vehicle I could be responsible
Go figure
Good luck
DGS

 

[slewisma]

I'd think snow removal and speed bumps would be a bad mix up there. If they are gravel you'll be replacing them every spring. If they are more substantial, you'll be breaking them or hurting the plow.

You say you can't control who uses the road but you also mention a gate as an idea. Do you have the ability to gate off the whole road? Private shared drives with sliding gates are pretty common in the islands and certain suburbs. Usually remote operated which would be important for your neighbor if she's still driving.

 

[GBeck]

where in Ont u from?
this idea might seem a little far fetched but works...try teaching everyone who uses the driveway a little respect...family or not get that lady to ram that walker up their *** and problem should take care of itself....
I know around here problem ppl always seem to get their car parked in front of the snow pile and have to either dig it out themselves or wait until melts...

 

[Tig]

Thanks for the replys.
DGS your current situation is reminiscent of the history of this lane. That history weighs on my mind. I do not want to be a part of creating a new nuisance. At it's low point a local was charged and convicted of impaired driving for trimming the speed bumps with a riding mower at midnight.
The issue of liability for speed bump damage is something I had not considered. The road is not an essential route to anyone who is not on my side of this issue. They would either be trespassers or someone I could talk straight with about their driving habits. If push came to shove I could answer that charge in court with a clear conscience.
slewisma, you are right about the speed bumps and snow removal. My FIL made speed bumps for his road. They are made of rubber and can be removed in the winter. I will have a look at them.
The gate is an option but would be awkward since there are reasonable uses for people to go fishing etc in winter. It would also inhibit legitimate visitors and others would just detour and drive over private property. I'll have to think that one through.
The camp has another access road during the 6 months that it is open. I also maintain that road but one of my neighbours abused the road and now he is banned. This guy is in charge of fund raising to fix our road. My contribution is seat time alone.
Right now I am leaning towards partial repair. I may get a few trailer loads of 3" minus gravel and fill the deepest holes half way. This would improve the lane but not make it "nice" enough to increase traffic or speeds. Kind of a hillbilly speed bump if you like. I also need to clear overhead branches along this stretch. If I improve the lane a bit more each year then in time, speed bumps and gates may become appropriate. One step at a time for now.
Thank you again for your thoughts and replys.

 

[Tig]

GBeck, I'm from "The County" (Prince Edward County).
I will make the respect issue clear to the landowners who are part of this effort. As for the camp 99% of the people are retired or have families and do behave respectfully. But you know how it goes, given a chance one transient moron or trespasser will punish me for my troubles. The area of concern is far out of sight of my place and I would never know what was going on until well after the fact.

 

[GBeck]

given a chance one transient moron or trespasser will punish me for my troubles

and the worst part is that in Canada..the law seems to favor these morons

 

[ampsucker]

watching with interest....

amp

 

[DGS]

TIG
Deny acess to an emergency vehicle be it ambulance fire or police and the crap will hit the fan (yours) big time
Seen this happen a lot in this part of SNOTARIO with their attitude of no road maintenence if it can be put to someone else
DGS

 

[2manyrocks]

Does the road need a water swale or water diversion bar in order to maintain the road anyway? Or you do need some extra deep potholes to slow people down?