Snow removal

[hobbes]

Anyone here have to deal with snow removal on a mile or more of road? I'm interested in building on a location that is a little more than 1.5 miles from a maintained county road and the power grid. Nothing certain just looking at possibilites. If I thought I could get in and out everyday during the winter, I think I could overcome the power issue fairly easy.

Since the location is a little over 8,000 ft elev. in the mountains of Colorado, my understanding is the road only stays open for as long as the snow allows.

How well do snow plows for the front of a 4x4 pick up work? How deep can the snow get before a tractor is required to remove the snow? What would the options be for trying to maintain travel during the winter months?

[JohnW]

Dang hobbes, a mile and half? That's a long way. How hilly or rocky is this lane? Are there trees along the road?

[hobbes]

I'ts a forest service road that has occasional maintenance, probably grading the gravel during the summer. It runs through a valley so it is relatively flat and has trees along side maybe 50% of it. It is a fairly good gravel road, but from what I have been told, they do not remove snow. So, once it gets too deep it's in effect closed. I'm not certain it would be legal for me, if I became the property owner, to do any road maintenance, i.e. remove snow.

[grandmajoy]

That is a long way, for that long of a road you with the amount of snow you will likely get you would most likely beat that 4x4 to death with a plow. You need to look into a tractor with a rotary(BIG snow blower) plow. The rotary will throw the show 20' or more out of you're way. Farm sales would be the place to look. If I would have had the money I could have picked one up this summer for $13,000. If I had a mile and a half long road I would have found the money :o The bonus is that if you get one, you can do other folks's drives and make some dough. The going rate here(S.E. Idaho) is about $100 an hour

[grandmajoy]

If its F.S. better check with them on what you can do to the road. If its one they groom for snow machines they might not let you plow. Plus there will be liability issue with the F.S. Have you already bought this land?

joy

[hobbes]

No, just doing some research as to weather it is a viable location for building on. The location would be great in my opinion for building, but the details such as snow and power would have to be resolved before I would spend any money.

[BillyKoda]

If you can park close to the main road look into getting a snowmobile for the 1.5 mile trek to the property.

[DavidOH]

If you can park close to the main road look into getting a snowmobile for the 1.5 mile trek to the property.


Sounds like your best solution.
If it's shallow, drive through it. If it's too deep seek alternative transportation ( Snowmobile ) and drive over it. That's way to much to plow.

[CarolAnn]

Just one question - who's going to go after you if it's NOT legal to remove the snow yourself - the Snow Police?! ;D

Neighbors and I used to often do our own road maintenance in Arkansas - cutting drainage ditches on puddles, bringing in amounts of gravel, etc., on our shared county road. We didn't get enough snow to cause a problem, but once a county road grader (the gravel type) - came down to take out 8" of snow on the road. He would have been delighted to find that we'd taken any part of it out for him.

If you have the means to keep the road open, I don't think anyone would give you any hassle about it - they'll be too busy taking care of the stuff on other roads they DO have to keep open.