Highway Department

Overview

Review of Operation

The Herkimer County Highway Department is responsible for the operation and maintenance of 574 miles of roads, 66 bridges (5 co-owned with adjoining Fulton & Oneida counties), 128 large culverts (5′ to 20′), approximately 2,000 roadway culverts. The department has 44 full-time employees and 53 seasonal (including temporary) employees.

Maintenance operations and programs performed by the department include:

• Road rehabilitation
• Pavement striping
• Slurry seal
• Guide rail replacement/repair
• Chip seal (oil & stone)
• Roadside mowing
• Sodding
• Road sweeping
• Cleaning ditches
• Roadside garbage/trash pick up
• Culvert replacement/repair
• Sign installation, inspection, replacement & repair
• Paving/patching/pothole repair
• Hauling gravel/stone
• Shoulder repair/installation
• Highway equipment maintenance & repair
• Bridge maintenance/repair
• Facility snow & ice control
• Catch basin clean-out/repair
• Guide rail spraying
• Tree & brush removal
• Misc. work for other departments & municipalities

Capital projects and maintenance programs are supported by the highway department’s engineering staff that provides a variety of engineering services including, but not limited to pavement & roadway asset inventory, maintenance program management, surveying, highway design, construction inspection, management of files and records, etc. The department is equipped with equipment, computers and software for design/drafting, survey data collection/processing, geographic information systems (GIS) data collection & processing and sign retro-reflectivity testing.

The repair and maintenance of machinery/equipment is performed at the County Highway Department. Department mechanics perform preventative maintenance, repairs and inspection on all motorized equipment and motor vehicles. Department mechanics also provide support for construction equipment repair and fueling at project sites. The department also manages a complete body repair shop and on-site fuel management system.

The plowing and sanding of county roads is accomplished under contract with towns and villages for county roads within their municipality. Herkimer County also subcontracts with seven towns and one village for state snow and ice removal on approximately 89 miles of state highways.

The capital construction program is funded through the county road fund, state funding (CHIPS) and federal highway funding.

The county maintains a full-time traffic department that is responsible for the maintenance and installation of traffic signs. More than 10,650 signs are inspected tri-annually for condition and verification of installation.

A computer-generated record of inspection and sign inventory is maintained. New signs are installed for reconstruction projects and speed zones or other changing roadside conditions. Approximately 700 temporary signs are installed during a year for construction projects, maintenance programs and road closures.

Hours of Operation:

Monday – Friday 8:00 am – 4:00 pm  Closed 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Community Corner Public Information

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