You know what’s worse than a beaver dam blocking your culvert? A beaver dam blocking your culvert and your only chainsaw refusing to start like a teenager on Monday morning. Highway superintendents, listen up: If you’re only relying on one chainsaw to keep your roads clear of fallen trees, then you’re just one flooded culvert … Read more
There you are, sipping your coffee, thinking the day might actually be calm, when suddenly the phone rings. A resident reports that “a chunk of the road just collapsed under my Subaru.” You head out to investigate and sure enough, there it is: a small blacktop crater that looks like the earth’s just had … Read more
Let’s say you’re a highway superintendent enjoying your morning coffee when BAM! – you get word that a utility crew is planning to slice up your freshly paved road like it’s a sheet cake at a church picnic. Can you stop them? Well… you can try. And if you play your cards right, you might … Read more
Let’s be honest. No one dreams of paperwork when they sign up to run a highway crew. But a good, simple work order can save a road supervisor from all kinds of headaches later on. Whether it’s a routine pothole patch or a full-day ditching job, having the right info on a work order helps … Read more
Let’s paint a picture: it’s a sunny Tuesday, your crew’s out on the shoulder with the backhoe, ready to dig. You’re swapping jokes, maybe arguing about where to get lunch, and then BOOM. You just turned a quiet ditch project into a fireworks show by hitting a gas line. Congratulations! You’ve now bought the town … Read more
When the snow starts falling, rock salt (sodium chloride) is the go-to weapon for most highway departments trying to keep roads safe and passable. But like any tool, rock salt has its limits, and knowing when it stops being effective can save you time, money, and a lot of wasted effort. Let’s break it down. … Read more
No matter how many years you’ve been in this line of work, one thing remains true: the road will always find a way to surprise you. One day everything’s running smooth; the next, a plow’s buried to its axles in a snowbank, a backhoe is on its side in a ditch, or your only salt … Read more
For any highway department, one thing that can eat through your budget faster than a dump truck burns diesel is fleet maintenance costs. Between wear and tear, unexpected breakdowns, and rising parts prices, it can feel like you’re always chasing repairs. The good news? With a little planning and discipline, you can get a handle … Read more
If you run a highway department, mowing the shoulders of your roads isn’t just about keeping things looking tidy, though that’s a nice side benefit. Regular shoulder mowing plays a critical role in both road safety and environmental responsibility. Let’s break it down. 1. Sight Distance = Safe Driving One of the biggest reasons to … Read more
You don’t need to be a pavement engineer to know that cracks are bad news for your roads. But here’s the good news: you can fight back, and one of the simplest, most cost-effective tools in your arsenal is crack sealing. Let’s take a quick drive through the why, when, and how of crack sealing, … Read more