I also might add that the centerline alignment from the engineer was a rough alignment too. This took 5 hrs field time, and a couple of hours office time. There are only going to be 14 lots (very large lots)in this 600 acre subdivision. Not looking for minimum road frontages or trying to max out the lot count. Plenty of wiggle room. The road builder has seen the on the ground layout and is satisfied that he can build a road in the location. An engineered plan based on my on the ground topo of this location will soon follow the timber cut.
I did this on about 13 miles of new subdivision road through the woods. Worked like a charm. When I came back after the clearing to mark the design centerline, it was pretty amazing how well the resource grade GPS worked. Since it was within the confines of the planned subdivision, there was no concern about several feet one way or the other. I marked each side of a 50' clearing limit and that is what was cleared when I came in and marked the design center line.
I charged the same crew rate as I do for working with survey grade GPS or total station work. Just because the resource grade unit was much cheaper didn't matter. Because of it's use, the process was much easier and quicker.
Interesting
The way most municipalities work around here, you could never cut a mile long+ 100' wide road in first, then design the road.
You'd have to do all design work (at least feasible design work) then go get all approvals from P&Z, wetlands, conservation, engineering, Fire, police. etc., before you could cut a single tree for the road.
Interesting
Here in NH you can cut your timber. You can clear cut your whole property if you want. You have to file an intent to cut with the town first so they can get their timber tax from you.