Project Scope: To map 1.1 miles of a local (city/county) road for changes (new sidewalks, new paving, bike lanes, etc) to be constructed inside the existing right-of-way. Locate all visible above ground improvements and establish the right-of-way for the road. Site walk, records research and field work all indicate that the first 3000’+/- is a 60’ r/w which changes to a 100’ r/w for the remainder of the project. We found numerous monuments on both sides of the road for the entire route including all four concrete r/w monuments at the transition from 60’ to 100’. Even found the PC and PT monuments on both sides of the road for the one curve in the project area. So far, so good…. Contacted the Georgia Department of Transportation for any r/w plans they might have in the area and they sent a set dated 1940……. indicating an 80’ r/w for the entire section that I am mapping!
Our as-built curve data indicates a 5° curve and the plans show a 4° curve. From STA 0+00 (at a long existing road intersection and where my project started) to the PC, has a different (as-built verses plans) distance.
There has to be another set of plans and the trick will be finding them. Should be fun sorting this one out!!!!
That does sound like fun.
In my case, I would need to see regular payments for the work as we progressed. That is not a "wham bam thank ya ma'am" type of job.
I'd be looking for the actual row conveyances. Plans are just that.
Amen Shawn
I've found plans and R/W monuments at 50 feet from center. Then look at the deed and it calls for 40. Guess which controls.
Andy
Amen Shawn
The difference between the plans and the paperwork on a highway from the early 1930's led to a telephone crew slicing through a natural gas line near here. No one was hurt. Everyone on the crew pretended they didn't know they had cut it. The owner of the gas line had to sue. Let's just say that was a VERY expensive line cut.
Amen Shawn
That was one of my first observations....just because a set of plans exists does not mean that the land was actually acquired. I need to find the r/w acquisition deeds. The section that the evidence and records indicate to be a 60' r/w is one of those areas with the back of sidewalk 30'+/- from the center line and called for monuments at the back of the sidewalk and in some places fences along the sidewalk. Clearly that is where the land owners think their boundary is located.
Like I said, this should be fun to figure out.
Until you tell them they don't own 20 feet
Everything usually runs smoothly until you start taking shots three feet from their kitchen window. And that tree that was planted on the day Little Johnny was born (who died tragically two years later) turns out to be on their hated neighbor's land.
The best part of that kind of work is
making up smart answers when people ask what you are surveying for.
The best part of that kind of work is
New exit ramp for nearest hi-way, new airport, new pig farm, or installation of an overhead perforated sanitary line (then watch them look up).:-D
The best part of that kind of work is
> New exit ramp for nearest hi-way, new airport, new pig farm, or installation of an overhead perforated sanitary line (then watch them look up).:-D
Not sure why? but I had always heard "overhead glass sewer line".
Truth be told, I usually told them they were going to fix the road as it put them in a better mood than the development we were usually doing.
The best part of that kind of work is
> Truth be told, I usually told them they were going to fix the road as it put them in a better mood than the development we were usually doing.
My favorite is "the road is costing way too much to maintain, so They've decided to narrow it. We're surveying off some mobile home lots along the part of the right-of-way that won't be needed any more. The rent from them ought to pay for pavement maintenance."
The best part of that kind of work is
A roller coaster....
.....its for the kids ya know?
This one always gives the conversation a short pause, just long enough to duck and run.
The best part of that kind of work is
In this case, "fixing up the road" is the truth.
Amen Shawn
Iowa DOT does this alot. Most right of way was taken by easement in the early days. As the road got wider or paved the right of ways got wider to accomodate ditches and backslope. the additional ground was usually taken by fee. Usually when surveying around iowa State Highways the surveyor must be armed with the 30's stuff as well as later stuff to make it work out. As a practice i don't just accept right of way markers without running centerlines. Seen right of way rails off more than 5' from corner. The rails were used after railroads started replacing lighter rail for heavy and sold the old for scrap
Amen Shawn
We did survey the center line. The r/w markers as well as the boundary line monuments along the route fit either 30' +/- or 50' +/- from the center line.
