@skryking

There may indeed be more to the story.

I come from a rural background. Many people drive 80 kph (50 mph) on these roads. And they hit the ditch more often.

There might be some weight restrictions that prohibit big trucks on this road. The pavement in the photo (or oily gravel) looks a little on the weak side to me.

Anyways, we need more info to know why this thing has remained in the ditch for 67 years.

@skryking

The photo looks like a rural highway to me. This means fairly high speeds. If a car "hits the ditch," a bumpy ride turns into a fatal accident.

I suspect the jurisdiction belongs to whoever owns the highway. It could be the state or it could be the county.

A couple of heavy tow wreckers could move this machine. Less than $5000.

But there may be political pressure to keep the machine in place. It does look cute.

@Chigaze @archaeohistories

I would need more info to proffer any perspective on your California situation. But it sounds like a situation where local governance is ineffective. I can see several possible reasons for this.

Maybe another sign that American democracy is failing?

BTW, I am an inventor of a new democracy. Check out my byline if interested.

I'm pretty sure this new democracy would find a way to pave that road.

@Chigaze @archaeohistories

I suspect it has stayed on the ground for 67 years because of its novelty and notoriety more than the expense of removing it. Locals probably like talking about it--------------until one of their own plow into it.

Renting a crane for four hours and a truck to haul it away is not a big expense. Municipalities use these machines a lot.

@archaeohistories

Cute, but a big hazard if a vehicle has to leave the road. I would move this thing off.

Or at least further away from the road. A crane could do this in less than four hours. Much cheaper than having a vehicle plow into it.