Winter weather has definitely returned to the area, and PennDOT is making sure that people are taking steps to make sure their mailboxes are not damaged by snowplows.
PennDOT says that most of the damage that mailboxes take comes from the weight of the snow being plowed. Most mailboxes are usually within the reach of a postman, but they’re also within PennDOT’s legal right of way. That means the homeowner is responsible for making sure that the mailbox can withstand the weight of snow being thrown from a snow plow. PennDOT does offer up some tips:
- Place a six-to-eight inch piece of reflective tape on the mailbox to help plow drivers see the mailbox at night.
- Remove snow from the mailbox area, but do not throw it back on the road.
- If the mailbox is in the legal right-of-way and it has experienced damage in the past, consider moving the mailbox.
- And make sure the post supporting the mailbox is firmly secure in the ground.
For those who have followed those tips and still found themselves with a damaged mailbox, they may want to consider a cantilever mailbox support that can swing a mailbox out of harm’s way. Plans for such a mailbox are available on PennDOT’s website, www.penndot.gov/winter.
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