Patent ID: 7266926

Claim:
A method for facilitating adjustment of the positioning along a roadway of below-ground structures having open upper ends, the method comprising: installing a below-ground structure into the ground along the roadway; providing a template for placement upon such open upper end, the template including a single-piece body substantially lighter in density than a permanent ground-level member selected for installation upon the open upper end of the below-ground structure, the body having: a height-gauging sidewall upwardly extending between an upper edge and a bottom edge, the sidewall having a vertical dimension substantially equal to a corresponding vertical dimension of the sidewall of the permanent ground-level member; and a lateral-gauging flange outwardly extending from the bottom edge and configured to securely engage the open upper end of the below-ground structure, the flange having a horizontal dimension substantially equal to a corresponding horizontal dimension of the bottom flange of the permanent ground-level; placing manually the template on the open upper end of the below-ground structure; inspecting the placed template to determine whether the upper end of the below-ground structure is in the proper vertical and horizontal position for a single-step proper installation of the permanent ground-level member; lifting manually and removing the template from the below-ground structure; modifying the upper end of the below-ground structure if the inspecting step determines the upper end not to be in the proper vertical and horizontal position; replacing manually the template on the open upper end of the below-ground structure to determine the proper positioning of the below-ground structure following the adjusting step; and installing in a single step the permanent ground-level member upon the upper end of the below-ground structure in proper vertical orientation with respect to an intended level of a completed road and in proper horizontal orientation with respect to the below-ground structure.