Jan, count yourself lucky. You're living on a street that isn't under construction. Granted you have problems, as does the entire east side when it comes to road construction. However, the real fun comes when you're living with the actual construction.
At the present time, all the pavement has been torn up, along with the sidewalks and curbs, all to be replaced with nice, new concrete (no asphalt on the street). This is occurring on a one block section of Chicago and the entire length of Clairemont from E. Lancaster to Hawlet (three blocks).
Keep in mind that there is continuous digging for access to the pipes, refilling what was dug, then digging again when the next piece of the project occurs. In the process, you have limited access to your driveways. If a visitor wants to come by, there is no place to park on the street, etc. In my particular location, there's an 18'' drop from the top of the old sidewalk to the surface of the street and it will remain that way until they start pouring new concrete.
Now..how long is this going to go on? Until, according to the signs that are up, Summer 2008. Does this mean the beginning of summer or the end of summer? Your guess is as good as mine, but it could possibly stretch all the way into the middle of next September. Or longer. Much longer.
Why do I say much longer? Remember the two months of solid rain we had at the beginning of last summer. The prediction for this Winter is warmer and drier than normal. I hope so, because they just might make some decent progress. BUT if it starts with heavy, continuous rain this coming Spring, not only will you have a quagmire that will be virtually impassable either on foot or by car, the completion date will wind up being open ended. Keep in mind that you can't do heavy construction, never mind get concrete to cure, in a swamp. Could the Chicago/Clairemont project stretch on for another year or so beyond the projected completion date. It all depends on the weather. All of which makes the headline of this post a very salient point. Wait til it rains.
One final comment. If it looks like we're in for an extended siege of wet weather, it might behoove us to lay in a reasonable quantity of survival supplies.
At the present time, all the pavement has been torn up, along with the sidewalks and curbs, all to be replaced with nice, new concrete (no asphalt on the street). This is occurring on a one block section of Chicago and the entire length of Clairemont from E. Lancaster to Hawlet (three blocks).
Keep in mind that there is continuous digging for access to the pipes, refilling what was dug, then digging again when the next piece of the project occurs. In the process, you have limited access to your driveways. If a visitor wants to come by, there is no place to park on the street, etc. In my particular location, there's an 18'' drop from the top of the old sidewalk to the surface of the street and it will remain that way until they start pouring new concrete.
Now..how long is this going to go on? Until, according to the signs that are up, Summer 2008. Does this mean the beginning of summer or the end of summer? Your guess is as good as mine, but it could possibly stretch all the way into the middle of next September. Or longer. Much longer.
Why do I say much longer? Remember the two months of solid rain we had at the beginning of last summer. The prediction for this Winter is warmer and drier than normal. I hope so, because they just might make some decent progress. BUT if it starts with heavy, continuous rain this coming Spring, not only will you have a quagmire that will be virtually impassable either on foot or by car, the completion date will wind up being open ended. Keep in mind that you can't do heavy construction, never mind get concrete to cure, in a swamp. Could the Chicago/Clairemont project stretch on for another year or so beyond the projected completion date. It all depends on the weather. All of which makes the headline of this post a very salient point. Wait til it rains.
One final comment. If it looks like we're in for an extended siege of wet weather, it might behoove us to lay in a reasonable quantity of survival supplies.
