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.

 

[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?

 

[zzvyb6]

I used my old 2" well pipe sections to maintain speed. Easy with a tractor, hard on your car and male & female parts if you get ove 5 mph.

Easy to move and re-move, easy to see, and durable. I even caught a golf cart operator that now needs a new bridge.

 

[dirtworksequip]

You might want to try and build some "speed humps" instead of speed bumps. That way you can still plow snow and not worry about plowing them out. Just build up the stone so that it is a hump about 2 feet high and 6 to 8 feet long. That way if anyone goes too fast over the hump it would be uncomfortable, but not so at slower speeds.

Sincerely, Dirt

 

[Jeff244]

I think 2manyrocks has the right idea, some swails, or inverted speed bumps should slow people down. You may want to consider a sign to warn people about the speed bumps to reduce liability. Since you have a gravel road instead of asphalt, plan on redoing them every year.


Jeff

 

[Tig]

DGS, currently my task is making the road passable for emergency vehicles. It's not my responsibility but it is in my best interest. Realistically a fire truck will never pass down this lane. It is narrow and there are some low overhead wires.
2manyrocks, I will need to swale at least one side of the road in most places. A swale across the road may work well since the shoulder needs to be cut down for drainage. Last year snow removal was awkward until the holes filled with ice. In spring things got messy.
The road is on the back burner for a bit right now. I have to move my kids to an apartment in town this weekend I am also moving the following weekend. Then a I am in Toronto a week and Poughkeepsie for two weeks.
I will bring a camera with me next time and I'll get a couple pics of the laneway. I also want to take a close look and get pics of the removable speed bumps my FIL made. I'm told they were made from worn out rubber skidsteer tracks that he got from the local rental place for free. They look good.
I"ll keep the 2" pipe in mind also. I like the idea of removing the bumps in winter.
Ironically the history of abuse centers around the former residents of my place, who I still know, as well as some people who were in the camp when I worked there as a teenager. I cringe to think about the crap and disrespect that went on.