Every highway department fills potholes. It's one of those jobs that never truly ends and, put plainly, potholes are a massive pain in the ass. As soon as you think you've caught up, another freeze-thaw cycle, heavy rain, or overloaded truck creates a fresh crop of pavement failures that dem…continue
Santa Claus may not exist, but personal legal liability for negligence in your duties as a civil servant certainly does. That may sound like a dramatic way to begin an article, but if you have spent any time working in local government, you have probably heard some version of the same comforting myt…continue
Stormwater drainage systems are among the most important (and often most overlooked) assets owned by municipalities. Hidden beneath roads, driveways, and rights-of-way, culverts and drainage pipes quietly move stormwater away from infrastructure and help prevent flooding, washouts, and road failures…continue
Daily activity tracking is one of the most fundamental parts of running a road or public works department, yet it’s also one of the hardest to keep organized. Paper sheets get lost. Notes get rushed. Details get forgotten. When you look back six months later, it can be difficult to reconstruct…continue
Because "I just know" isn’t a budget strategy. Every highway superintendent or public works director has faced that awkward moment in a budget meeting, sitting across from the board, being told to “justify” why you need another $100,000 for paving, or a new truck, or an e…continue
Public works and highway departments across the United States are legally required to maintain traffic control devices that meet minimum standards for visibility, condition, and retroreflectivity. According to the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), every public agency must have a pro…continue
Every municipality is responsible for maintaining traffic signs in accordance with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). While most superintendents recognize the importance of installing the correct signs in the correct locations, the job doesn’t end there. Signs are only effe…continue
Running a highway department without written policies is like building a road without a blueprint. Eventually, you will hit potholes. A clear set of written policies provides structure, consistency, and legal protection for both the department and the municipality it serves. Yet, too many highway de…continue
For highway departments striving to stay compliant, organized, and legally protected, keeping accurate and up-to-date records of traffic signs is critical. Signs are among the most visible and most litigated assets on the road. To ensure accountability, safety, and compliance with federal and state …continue
Selecting the right asset management software can be the difference between a well-run highway department and one that constantly struggles with inefficiencies, lost records, and reactive maintenance. But with so many software options available, ranging from simple platforms to enterprise-level syst…continue
When it comes to municipal liability, a missing stop sign or a damaged guardrail isn't just an inconvenience, it’s a lawsuit waiting to happen. That’s why your municipality’s liability insurance carrier is increasingly urging highway departments to adopt asset management platfo…continue
Let’s be real for a second: running a highway department without some kind of organized system is like trying to fix a car without a toolbox. You can do it, but it’s going to be a whole lot harder than it needs to be—and you’re definitely going to lose track of where the 10mm…continue