Idiot neighbor and the idiots at city

[67Dart273]

The city has been installing a new waterline(s). This is incredibly annoying and disruptive if you can follow me

The PRESENT line is in the alley on my block, and the city is telling us "it is too small." Unless someone tears down a bunch of houses and rebuilds with large apartment complexes, I don't see the problem It supplies the houses on my side of 11th st and the houses adjacent to the alley on 10th st.

So, they are putting in new huge mains on the far side of my street (11th) and in the street on 10th.

HERE IS THE KICKER. Evidently the opposite side of 10th, AKA the "near" houses are served from MY alley, and the far houses are served from the NEXT alley, ...................................

ON BOTH STREETS ONLY ONE SIDE IS AFFECTED. I have to re-do my water supply as does everybody on my side of 11th, change from the alley to the new line in the street. BUT THE HOUSES across the street from me are not going to change ANYTHING. This is ALSO true (except a couple) over on 10th street!!!!

SO WHY DIDN'T THEY just put the new line back down the alley???

But the real deal is the city has been screwing with this now for ?? over a month ?? And they won't "leave us alone." They come in dig up a little bit, disrupt parking and traffic, and then leave for a couple of days.

SO YESTERDAY they FINALLY came in and did final tamping and grading and "it appears" ready for new pavement (not the whole street, just the parking land across from me, where they dug)

SO THE NEIGHBOR DOWN THE STREET left his vehicles on the street, and the city is out there trying to contact him to get them moved!!!!

You have to laugh. It helps instead of crying!!!

 

[diymirage]

your city doesnt have a single towtruck ?

 

[67Dart273]

your city doesnt have a single towtruck ?

Doubt it. They call private ones. This was not that long and this was meant more in "somewhat humor." The neighbor was rousted out after a few minutes, it's just that he should have realized after the activity yesterday that 'something was afoot'

The good news? They are outfront now with a paver................

 

[Steve welder]

My city puts fliers up on poles well ahead of any street construction, if someone is stupid enough not to pay attention your car is towed a few blocks away on the day the work commences.
As far as water mains or any construction in the street, what looks like a delay is often not.
Utilities are up graded for specific reasons and for anticipated future growth.
Ive seen roadways temporary paved for what seemed like a unreasonable amount of time, all because of other utility work in months to come
Yes its a inconvenience and a real PIA but when its not done and your water pressure is so low or in the event of a water main failure, what would be the alternative
Id guess moving to the country, digging and maintaining a well, in addition to a septic system would be a option

 

[WV64Signet]

Hah! Don't do that in the DC Metro area. They don't even hook up anything, just use the bullbar and push the vehicle off the street and onto the sidewalk

 

[Dan the man]

My city puts fliers up on poles well ahead of any street construction, if someone is stupid enough not to pay attention your car is towed a few blocks away on the day the work commences.
As far as water mains or any construction in the street, what looks like a delay is often not.
Utilities are up graded for specific reasons and for anticipated future growth.
Ive seen roadways temporary paved for what seemed like a unreasonable amount of time, all because of other utility work in months to come
Yes its a inconvenience and a real PIA but when its not done and your water pressure is so low or in the event of a water main failure, what would be the alternative
Id guess moving to the country, digging and maintaining a well, in addition to a septic system would be a option

I have both a well and a septic tank. Well water is the best and I like the idea of no water or sewer bill

 

[inkjunkie]

When I lived in AZ the city decided they were going to extend Adobe. It went about halfway between 2 main roads before it was barricaded. City came out tore down the barricade, graded/graveled and rolled the gravel. Road was paved. Month later the city was out there tearing up the asphalt as the street lights were not installed. Repaved. Month later out there tearing it up again..."forgot" to put power to the street lights. Every time they were there working they would block off the southern way of 80th, which is how I got to work. If went north it took another 10 minutes to get to work. I asked one of the guys wearing a tie that was out there one day what the deal was...."got bond money that if we did not burn it up we would not get it next year".

Then the chip seal deal. Got a letter advising us to park our vehicles out on 80th St on the third Wednesday of the month, our 'hood was going to get chip sealed. The second Tuesday of the month my 2 dogs were losing their minds at 6 in the morning...road was getting chip sealed. Came time to go to work I rode my bike down the side walk...until I got stopped by a cop that was there "directing traffic". Got a ticket for "illegal use of a sidewalk"...tried to explain to the cop about the letter being wrong, was like talking to a tree. Met him in court...don't think he appreciated the judge laughing at him in a packed court room....

 

[inkjunkie]

I have both a well and a septic tank. Well water is the best and I like the idea of no water or sewer bill

Growing up my folks house had a septic system. Got a letter stating we HAD to be put on city sewer, at our cost. My folks just wrote the check and forgot about it. Until there was knock on the door....the city was there with our "gift" for getting put on the city sewer...a gas grill. And a letter saying that we had 30 days to remove or permanently fill the septic tank. Guy came to pump it...our dog jumped on the guys back when he was just at the right angle to fall head first into a half drained shitter tank. That was the first time I remember seeing my dad laugh so hard he cried....

 

[norshorblufish]

To answer some of your questions. Maybe you won’t think the
City is idiotic. I’m sure the city researched before they decided to upgrade the water line. Like when the old one was installed, how many homes have been built since, flow rate especially for fire protect.
Probable reason it wasn’t put in the alley there may not have been enough room in the alley to install it especially if there are other utilities in the the alley.
There is a minimum distance that has to be maintained between sewer, water and gas lines. Oh and you had water while they installed it too.
The water line may not only service just your area either.

Usually they have a pre construction meeting for residents before construction begins to inform them of what they were going to do. At least they do here.
Did the city have a contractor doing it or did they do it themselves. If they did it themselves that wasn’t the brightest move because of their limited personnel. That maybe why they kept leaving and coming back they got called away to do something else.

I worked as a surveyor and inspector for 40 years for private firm and for government. I’ve been on a lot of construction jobs and yes they can be plenty disruptive.
I’m sure they had a reason for replacing it. Hope they’ve finished and things are somewhat back to normal.