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Background		State Standards
Street Signs		Speed Limits
Roadsides		Variances
Plowing		DOT Maintenance
Entrances		Turning Radii
Header

As a result of lengthy negotiations, a court appeal and consequent settlement, most of our roads are now in the state system. All of our roads except for Mafolie Court and Stone Creek Place, are in the state roads system and are maintained by the State of North Carolina Department of Transportation (DOT) with District Headquarters in Graham. The Association reached an "out of court" settlement with Security Building regarding private maintenance by Security Building for the three roads not in the state system and a copy of that document is on file with the Association. Roads fall under the maintenance committee.

The state is now responsible for the road surfaces and drainages along the roads. From time-to-time the Association independently provides for patching of pot-holes and other minor maintenance items.

The state, as well as our private agreement with Security Building, require that property owners are responsible for maintaining the roadsides according to state standards, except where variances have been granted. State standards are defined as no plantings, except grass, between the road and the drainage ditches, as well as on the dirt banks from the drainage ditches to each home site. Only single wooden post mailboxes are allowed and the front of the mailbox must be "set-back" three feet from the road surface. No rock, posts, timbers or other materials are permitted.

The state is responsible for the installation and maintenance of all street signs.

The current speed limit on Whitfield Road of 45 mph was reduced in 1988 from 55 mph as a consequence of an Association appeal. Our interior roads speed limit is 35 mph. The Association did manage to have the speed limit reduced to 35 mph on Turkey Farm Road. Our appeal to keep interior roads at 20 mph has been repeatedly denied.

Given these stringent state standards, it is sometimes difficult to know what is allowed and what is not. Certain variances have been obtained by the Association to allow property differences and individuality. A variance means that the state will tolerate something that is different from state standards. It does not, however, mean that if damages occur to the variant item that the state will compensate the property owner for the object.

Neither the state nor the Association assumes any responsibility for damages to property that occurs as a consequence of maintenance activities, except for those completely within standards. The public "right-of-way" differs slightly from property to property and the state reserves all right to maintain such right of way according to state laws and regulations.

1. Plantings between the roadsides and the drainage ditches are not allowed. Except for grass, such planting undermine the pavement. Where the drainage ditches are not plainly evident, all plantings set back a minimum distance of 6 feet from the roadside will be allowed. Plantings are allowed on the ŇupsideÓ of the dirt banks away from the road and drainage ditches toward the homes.
2. No rocks, bricks, timbers, electrical lights or other materials are allowed between the roadsides and the drainage ditches. We have been told that the state reserves the right to remove such offending items without a property owner's permission.
3. Mailboxes of the single wooden post type are the only kind allowed. Certain brick mailboxes constructed before August 1988 are allowed by variance. We have been informed by the state that any new brick mailboxes constructed after August 1988 will be torn down by state authorities.
4. Mailbox "set-back" of three feet from the roadside is not required. In no case, however, will a mailbox be allowed that overhangs the road surface. Bringing a mailbox front to the road surface eliminates the ruts that occur from mail delivery.
5. Mailbox ruts occur if the state standards are adhered to. When such ruts occur, the state will periodically place gravel. Such ruts are unsightly and many property owners have elected to move mailboxes closer to, but not over the road.
6. Headers: The headers are the stoneworks that surround the conduit that takes water underneath driveways or under roads. Headers are allowed but the state assumes no responsibility.

Snow plowing is provided by Department of Transportation on a priority system for plowing after major snows. After particularly significant snow and ice storms, it can take several days for all neighborhood roads to be plowed. Typically, roads carrying higher volumes of traffic will be plowed first, such as Turkey Farm and Whitfield Roads. The Department of Transportation has indicated that they are working to identify more private contractors to perform faster snow removal in ours and other neighborhoods. The Department of Transportation has made it clear that due to liability issues, we may not privately arrange for state roads to be plowed.

• Inspection: Our subdivision is maintained by DOT and not by Orange County. DOT is responsible for maintaining the roads, right of ways, vegetation and signage. The roads are periodically inspected as follows:
  1. Monthly - A local contract maintenance engineer inspects conditions and performs light repairs either at that time or soon thereafter (potholes, "lazy turns", etc).
  2. Bi-annually - A formal Field Survey is performed to inspect for cracking, rutting and potholes. This is performed by a DOT staff person who then assigns a priority to the road for more significant roadwork, including resurfacing. This information is used to set the Annual Resurfacing Program. There is no guarantee that resurfacing will occur as this depends on adequate state funding which has been constrained in recent fiscal years due to highway expansion demands and general shortfalls in the State Budget. The Field Survey is scheduled to occur for our area by April 1, 2004. At present, Turkey Farm and Stoneridge Roads in particular have been identified for repaving in the near future.
• Department of Transportation Contacts:
  1. Division Engineer - Greensboro, Highway Division 7 - Mike Mills. (336)334-3192.
  2. District Engineer - Orange/Alamance Counties - Chuck Edwards. (226)570-6833.
  3. Local Contractor - Hillsborough. John Howell (919)732-4330. Any neighbor may call John to report a pothole or other road surface hazard. John is charged with driving through the neighborhood monthly to identify and perform minor road surface repairs. John Howell is the most efficient way to get a quick response to any potholes in our neighborhood.
  4. NC DOT Potholes may also be reported to DOT at 1-877-368-4968. To report potholes online, go to www.ncdot.gov/contact. Scroll down to “Reporting” and use the drop down menu to choose the county, then the link for a Contact Us email form can be sent directly to that county’s maintenance office.