They Paved Our Dirt Road..???

Helena · #1 08/22/14, 04:00 PM

Husband and I are both retired and living in our old, never ending fix-er-upper.." farmhouse for now 35 years. Raised our family, 5 acres with barn and outbuildings.Nice home, nice area, nice not to close neighbors, near (15 miles) to town and hospital etc. One daughert nearby..one in SC both with grandkids.OK..have always wanted to live in a wooded area,more land, less people around. Live more basic than we now do and spend less $$ on taxes, house repairs. We have always heated entirely with wood, garden, canned, animals for food so we are city slickers here, by any means. So ..I have found some homes with an hour of our now home..that meets the idea. when younger we just picked up and moved now I suppose, older and wiser ?? it is a little scary. Would not want to have regrets...but since they paved my dirt road..feel like I lost some of my country.
what do you all think or ..done ??!!

secuono · #2 08/22/14, 04:17 PM

I'm sorry, where is the issue? Is it that they paved your dirt road or did I miss something? Is the dirt road actually yours, and they paved it for free for you? Or it is yours and you're wondering if they're trying to get you to move or something? Or is this not even about the road and I'm just lost in the woods without a compass? lol

Darren · #3 08/22/14, 04:29 PM

I know what you mean. Paved roads are symbolic of the hustle and bustle of civilization. Dirt roads are a more relaxed, out of the way, back in time way of life.

Forcast · #4 08/22/14, 04:32 PM

but if they the town paved it then they should plow it as well Right

arabian knight · #5 08/22/14, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Forcast

but if they the town paved it then they should plow it as well Right

Not only that but it sure will cut down on the dust~! I would welcome such a thing and be jumping up and down if something like that would happen. Although my county road is already paved which is a god sent in the winter time, and rainy times, and sure is better for tires on any vehicle that runs on them.

crazyfarm · #6 08/22/14, 04:41 PM

My road is not even county maintained. I would do dirty acts to get it paved or heck, taken care of.

geo in mi · #7 08/22/14, 04:44 PM

Depends: on the wind direction, the distance from the house, the amount of traffic. I used to live on a gravel(sort of, but more like dirt) road, very close to it, lots of traffic. My two ancient oak trees encroached, making the road one-lane....more than one head-on accident, and farm machinery taking down my mailbox.

Township paved it,plus they took out the oaks(rotten) and two one hundred foot pine trees that leaned severely towards the house--which were infested with carpenter ants. Two years after the paving job, they would have come down in a fierce windstorm and split the house.

I like my paved road....

geo

grandma12703 · #8 08/22/14, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Helena

Husband and I are both retired and living in our old, never ending fix-er-upper.." farmhouse for now 35 years. Raised our family, 5 acres with barn and outbuildings.Nice home, nice area, nice not to close neighbors, near (15 miles) to town and hospital etc. One daughert nearby..one in SC both with grandkids.OK..have always wanted to live in a wooded area,more land, less people around. Live more basic than we now do and spend less $$ on taxes, house repairs. We have always heated entirely with wood, garden, canned, animals for food so we are city slickers here, by any means. So ..I have found some homes with an hour of our now home..that meets the idea. when younger we just picked up and moved now I suppose, older and wiser ?? it is a little scary. Would not want to have regrets...but since they paved my dirt road..feel like I lost some of my country.
what do you all think or ..done ??!!

I completely get what you are saying. We, too now live on a small highway, 20 acres, nice barns and an old but ok house. We have always loved our home way out in the country. No really close neighbors and no traffic. My DH job brought us away from the woods and here for at least the next 5 years but I dream of the day we are back out in the woods and off the beaten path. We love us some quiet nights looking at the stars, being able to go out and drink our coffee with our pjs on, and much more. Although we have never had any livestock escape the fencing it is also a constant concern next to the highway. In the woods I didn't have to worry about that even though I never had one escape out there either. It's just peace of mind even though some others find peace of mind living close to town, medical care, diet coke....LOL, I actually love that part.

PNP Katahdins · #9 08/22/14, 05:04 PM

I wonder if the OP's concern is about loss of privacy, or the anticipated cost or increase in taxes. We're on a paved county road in a very rural county but the house is back almost half a mile. Can't see the livestock or buildings from the road thanks to the ridge. Nearest neighbors are a mile away across the fields. Paul did a good job picking this place out.

Peg

FakeMountainMan · #10 08/22/14, 05:05 PM

Kinda wish they would pave my road. Got to get another ball joint replaced Monday. But that's the price you pay I guess

Danaus29 · #11 08/22/14, 05:19 PM

I remember when the road that ran in front of the house where I grew up got paved. Yes, those paved roads are nice but they also encourage an increase in traffic and speed. But otoh they are much better in the winter. If any of the pavement is showing the snow and ice melt off pretty quick. If it's any consolation, paving our road did not bring a sudden land rush. In fact, the area is still pretty much the same as it was 40 years ago.

Belfrybat · #12 08/22/14, 05:32 PM

If you are planning on moving, it seems to me the paved road would make it easier to sell your place. Or am I missing something here? Perhaps restate your question a bit simpler so we might understand what you are trying to say/ ask?

Ozarks Tom · #13 08/22/14, 05:41 PM

The developer out here sold his lots on the promise when enough lots were sold the county would pave the road. He lied. County requires 50' easement, we've got 30'. But, it's considered a "public" road and the responsibility for maintenance falls on the HOA. Problem is, the HOA is small and broke. I've been maintaining it with my little 8n for about 4 years now. Beats me who'll take care of it when I can't.

MichaelZ · #14 08/22/14, 05:47 PM

Spend some time with this new paved friend of yours and you will learn to love him. And soon enough you will forget that your friends of mud, dust, rocks, potholes, and more dust even existed.

simi-steading · #15 08/22/14, 05:55 PM

I just wish the county would toss a little rock in the the pot holes once a year... Called already this year. Nothing.. I'm on the list...

I'd be upset if they paved my view too... That's the county road cutting through my property.. It dead ends two properties up at the end of the hollow.. There would be no more traffic, but I'd hate the view..

FakeMountainMan · #16 08/22/14, 06:10 PM

I'm almost half a mile off the road that dead ends at our gate, so I'm not to worried about traffic. But I don't think there will ever be any pavement in our future, its just nice to dream sometimes.

copperkid3 · #17 08/22/14, 06:31 PM

I believe that the O.P.'s main concern is a wistfulness that
her way of life may be compromised by the possible increase
in traffic and the perception that blacktop means 'progress'.....

Either that or the very real fear that now her taxes will go up to pay for it!

Michael W. Smith · #18 08/22/14, 06:39 PM

I think what Helena is saying is her dirt road made her place feel "more country". Now that it's paved, her place doesn't feel so "country" anymore. It looks like her and her husband have been thinking about moving - but I think she was more - "thinking out loud" than actually asking a question.

We live in the country, but our road is actually a state road and paved. It hasn't been paved for quite a few years now, and is getting potholes and bumps. But the state has no money - so I would have no idea WHEN they will ever repair it again - their solution is to tar and chip it. (No doubt about it, tar and chipping helps protect the road and helps it not break down so fast, but it doesn't solve the potholes and bumps.)

You are actually lucky that your township / borough / state / whatever actually had the money to upgrade the road from dirt to paved. But you do realize once paved, it will never go back and much like your old farm house "never ending fix-er-upper" - it will be maintained. (Which will result in higher taxes in the future.)

It won't have to have anything done for it for the next 5 or so years - so if you plan on selling - they just did you a favor as your area will more will be "more accessible" than it once was considered.

Whether or not it brings new houses or McMansions to your area - only time will tell.

MichaelZ · #19 08/22/14, 08:49 PM

I guess if the "road" was more a path barely able to allow two cars to pass each other at low speeds and with little traffic, I would probably want it to stay dirt or gravel as well. But if it is a well-used road that churns up all kinds of dust as people barrel through at 45MPG, paving is much appreciated.

simi-steading · #20 08/22/14, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelZ

I guess if the "road" was more a path barely able to allow two cars to pass each other at low speeds and with little traffic, I would probably want it to stay dirt or gravel as well. But if it is a well-used road that churns up all kinds of dust as people barrel through at 45MPG, paving is much appreciated.

In this area a lot of houses are right on the edge of county dirt roads. We try and respect each other and slow to a crawl around each others places.. We all hate dust.. Or at least that's how I've found it to be so far.. still real new to the area..