A weir ditch is a drainage ditch that runs along both sides of a road, also known as a wheelbarrow pit or bar pit. It was traditionally dug by hand and used to improve road conditions for horse-drawn carts, but is now less common on concrete roads.
A weir ditch is a type of ditch that extends along both sides of a road. Also known as a wheelbarrow pit or bar pit, it is used for drainage. The dirt removed to dig the ditch of the barrier can also be added to the adjoining road to further elevate it with respect to the surrounding area. This term is heard most frequently in the southwestern United States of America.
In most cases, a ditch bar is along a dirt or gravel road. The bed may consist of earth, grass or wild plants. Some bar ditches have a fairly steep drop, while others are gentler. Depending on the depth, they can be a minor inconvenience or a significant problem for a driver going off the road.
Traditionally, the bar ditch was dug by hand. In the beginning, crews of workers used picks, shovels and wheelbarrows to remove dirt. Later, plows and horses were used to move the earth. Typically the workers digging the ditches also lifted the earth to the roadbed, where they raked and smoothed the earth until the surface was adequate for travel. These efforts were intended to improve the condition of the roads that had been used for horse-drawn carts, but were now seeing more automobiles, which needed smoother terrain.
In some areas, the government has required owners of property near the road to participate in the digging of bar ditches. The owners would have the choice of hiring a crew or handling the jobs themselves. Some workers set up their own crews and contracted with the owners to dig the ditches. Non-cooperating homeowners were assessed higher taxes. This was found to be the most effective way of ensuring that roads were properly constructed and available in uninterrupted sections of sufficient mileage.
Now that most of the roads are concrete, the barred ditch is used less frequently. It is most commonly found along roads with little traffic or found in rural areas. In addition to gravel and dirt, a barrier ditch can now also be found along smaller concrete roads.
A bar ditch is typically broken off at several points where another road or driveway intersects. To achieve maximum drainage, it is necessary to excavate under these sections of road that cover the ditch. Usually these tunnels are reinforced with concrete or sturdy metal shafts.
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