Manhole Cover In My Driveway

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@ptkaustin wrote:

Hi, 

 

I am moving to a new home in Texas that is in the final stages of being built.

There is an large AT&T round manhole cover for some type of utility that is sitting in the path of my driveway. The home builder and I are stumped on what to do. It seem the manhole cover was placed on the property in lieu of the house that was being built. 

 

I've been routed to 4 different people on the phone today and still can't find anyone who can help. 

 

Any suggestions? 

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Hello,

EDIT: If it is nothing important, you could just finish your drive way. Sounds like a weird spot to put a cover though.

Please contact ATTCustomerCare with the link in my signature. Explain your situation. Please include your name, account number, phone number, and a good time to reach you. Check the blue envelope at the top right corner of this page for their reply. Be sure to also check the email account you signed up with for this forum.

Hope they will get you fixed up.

Good Luck.

Sure sounds like your contractor should have included a plan incorporating that access cover in your driveway paving.  Have you asked him why he did not?  It really should have been on the plat.

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@JefferMC wrote:

Sure sounds like your contractor should have included a plan incorporating that access cover in your driveway paving.  Have you asked him why he did not?  It really should have been on the plat.

 

 

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Still sounds like something ugly to have in the middle of your drive way though.

Understood, but utility easements are what they are.  House/driveway/sidewalk placements should be done with full consideration of easements and the structures in them.

Personally, I'd avoid putting a driveway across an easement, except where you can't help it (like at the edge of the road).

Thanks for the info!

I have since found out that there's a 10 foot public utility easement (PUE) around the entire perimeter of my lot on the front and side (this is a corner lot). Regardless, AT&T told me that the utilities can be placed anywhere in that zone so even though the manhole cover is hitting part of my driveway at least it's not in the middle of the driveway ... or the sidewalk leading to my front door. 

My builder is taking the high road on this and is tearing out the driveway and repouring it with a slight "swing" to it. I'm not thrilled about the swing but it's better than the other option I was given - AT&T could send someone out from engineering and for $500 I could get an estimate to have the manhold cover relocated. 

I couldn't get a guesstimate of how many thousands of dollars it could cost to relocate things so luckily the building option will be better than what is there. 

I hope one day there is a prettier solution for utilities! I know we don't have utility poles overhead, but what we are left with are ugly electrical and fiber boxes that line the streets - usually every 2-3 houses. Yuck. 

To be brutally honest, your builder is not taking the high road.  Your builder is doing what he should have done in the first place: accomodated the pre-existing utility easements and accesses in his building plans.

I think he came to you when he figured out he had screwed up and tried to blame it on AT&T because he couldn't do what he had drawn on the plan.  If he charges you a red-penny for this change, I'd scream.