Jogeephus
Well-known member
I had what I thought was a small problem with a culvert at the drive entering a property and got quite the education.
Water had undermined one of the concrete joints in the culvert and my thought was I'd just dig the joint up and shore the foundation and put the joint back in and seal with some mortar and the problem would be solved for next to nothing.
However, this was on a state highway and was told I needed to get a permit. A few phone calls and two meetings later I had a permit and instructions on how the culvert had to be installed. Figured this would be no big deal since a new pipe would only cost around $250. However, the specs also called for the installation of safety ends which cost around $450 and I needed to install two of these. Apparently these are really important because they prevent drunk drivers or drivers who are distracted while texting from having a head on collision with the pipe when they run off the road. Apparently these safety ends will insure the vehicle doesn't stop at the pipe but continues on till it hits the tree 20 feet from the pipe. Makes perfect sense really. Especially when you are told you must have one on the down traffic side to prevent the fella that is so distracted he comes across a lane of traffic before leaving the road and hitting the tree.
Of course this wasn't all. Had to do some soil stabilization things as well but I understand this and have no problem with this whatsoever. I just don't get these safety ends. Seems like a waste of money since the concrete pipes have been in place since 1980 and no one has run into them. Had common sense been used this fix would have cost no more than $100 but with the help of the government I'm now out around $1500. Oh, and get this. I thought since I was having to replace the whole pipe I might as well put in a 30 footer. However, this is another thing altogether and the estimated cost of doing this would be between $40,000 and $80,000.
Do you ever get the feeling you are having to pay for other people's stupidity with all these safety nets? I do but maybe I'm just paranoid. Sometimes I think common sense left the building with Elvis. Rant over.
Water had undermined one of the concrete joints in the culvert and my thought was I'd just dig the joint up and shore the foundation and put the joint back in and seal with some mortar and the problem would be solved for next to nothing.
However, this was on a state highway and was told I needed to get a permit. A few phone calls and two meetings later I had a permit and instructions on how the culvert had to be installed. Figured this would be no big deal since a new pipe would only cost around $250. However, the specs also called for the installation of safety ends which cost around $450 and I needed to install two of these. Apparently these are really important because they prevent drunk drivers or drivers who are distracted while texting from having a head on collision with the pipe when they run off the road. Apparently these safety ends will insure the vehicle doesn't stop at the pipe but continues on till it hits the tree 20 feet from the pipe. Makes perfect sense really. Especially when you are told you must have one on the down traffic side to prevent the fella that is so distracted he comes across a lane of traffic before leaving the road and hitting the tree.
Of course this wasn't all. Had to do some soil stabilization things as well but I understand this and have no problem with this whatsoever. I just don't get these safety ends. Seems like a waste of money since the concrete pipes have been in place since 1980 and no one has run into them. Had common sense been used this fix would have cost no more than $100 but with the help of the government I'm now out around $1500. Oh, and get this. I thought since I was having to replace the whole pipe I might as well put in a 30 footer. However, this is another thing altogether and the estimated cost of doing this would be between $40,000 and $80,000.
Do you ever get the feeling you are having to pay for other people's stupidity with all these safety nets? I do but maybe I'm just paranoid. Sometimes I think common sense left the building with Elvis. Rant over.
