About Roads & Bridges

The Division of Roads and Bridges are responsible for maintaining 450 lane Miles of County roadway system in a safe, serviceable and aesthetically pleasing condition. Roadways are maintained curb to curb for pavement, drainage system, street cleaning, and leaf collection and snow/ice control. Roads within County institution and parking lots are also included.

Within County Right-of-Ways traffic signals and signal systems, regulatory, warning and guide signs and trees are maintained. The services/programs carried out by the Division are to provide for the safe passage of both motorists and pedestrians while using County roads.

Did you know?

The Division of Roads and Bridges:

Maintains 450 lane miles of county roadways
Maintains snow & ice removal on all County roads and institutional parking areas.
Repairs and cleans 11,000 storm drain units and three hundred and sixty (360) fixed bridges and culverts.
Utilizes 200 tons of hot mix asphalt for pavement repairs.
Removes 7,000 cubic yards of leaves from County roads.
Manages mechanized roadway sweeping to assure eleven thousand 11,000 curb miles are swept annually.
Manages and maintain disposal site from catch basin/culverts cleaning.
Prepares approximately 60 snowplows and 20 salt spreaders for winter use

Core Services

Highway Maintenance
- Maintain snow & ice removal on all County roads and institutional packing areas. Repair and clean 11,000 storm drain units and three hundred and sixty 360 fixed bridges and culverts. Utilize two hundred 200 tons of hot mix asphalt for pavement repairs. Remove seven thousand 7,000 cubic yards of leaves from County roads. Manage mechanized roadway sweeping to assure eleven thousand 11,000 curb miles are swept annually. Manage and maintain disposal site from catch basin/culverts cleaning. Prepare approximately 60 snowplows and 20 salt spreaders for winter use.
Tree Pruning
- Remove hazardous trees along County Right -of-Ways and on institutional grounds. Provide sight distance clearance for traffic signals and signs. Tree trimmings and stump removals are also accomplished.
  
  Over three hundred 300 removals are made each year. Approximately seven 7,000 trees are the responsibility for the Division.
Sign Shop
- The sign shop provides the means thru which our County road sign inventory of 31,500 signs are maintained in accordance with the Uniform Manual on Traffic Safety Devices New Jersey Department of Transportation Guidelines. Regulatory road signs must be made to exacting standards of size, material composition and color, as listed in the UMTSD. Strict quality control standards must and are adhered to before finished products are released for road use.
  
  Our sign shop fabricates sign upon request to County Institution and agencies with both metal and plastic signs for exterior and interior use. They also refinished existing signs by re-facing aluminum sheeting.
Traffic Maintenance
- The Division maintains approximately 465 signalized intersections along 215 miles of County roadways, to maintain a safe controlled flow of traffic. These signals are maintained on a 24hour basis. They replace/reconstruct approximately 100 signal components/units knocked down due to traffic accidents per year. This section changes an average of three 3,000 bulbs during the year and maintains controllers and related components for each signalized intersection. In order to effectively and efficiently respond to notifications of traffic signal malfunctions or motor vehicle accident knockdowns, the Division established a Traffic Signal Standby.
  
  In order to effectively and efficiently respond to notifications of traffic signal malfunctions or motor vehicle accident knockdowns, the Division established a Traffic Signal Standby.
Traffic Sign Standby
- The traffic signal standby is an employee who is knowledgeable in the assessment and repair of electro-mechanical and solid state traffic signals. Qualified personnel are put on a rotating roster to cover off duty shifts and weekends in the event a traffic signal malfunction occurs which needs immediate attention to correct a hazardous or "all lights out" condition at a county controlled intersection. Single bulb or signal head indication not lighted where other signal heads in the same direction continue to provide lighted directions are not considered hazardous and are left until the next scheduled workday.
  
  The designated traffic signal standby is provided with a County vehicle equipped with basic repair parts and tools needed to make any repairs needed; he is also equipped with a beeper and cell phone. When notice of a traffic signal malfunction or hazardous condition is received, our maintenance dispatcher logs this notification. The respective dispatcher then notifies the standby employee via beeper. The standby employee confirms notification and responds to assess the condition and take the appropriate action. Appropriate agencies i.e. local police, sheriffs department are kept advised. The Traffic Section maintains records of response and action taken.
  
  Scheduled standby coverage for signal repairs is 3 :00pm to 7 :00am weekdays and 24 hours on weekends and holidays. Signal standby is generally assigned to one person on a weekly basis and in the event additional help is needed the section supervisor is contacted for authorization.
  
  Each year the Division of Engineering, through their Signalized Intersection Modernization Projects, upgrade a number of intersections affecting our County roadway system. The Division of Roads and Bridges personnel are involved in most phases of these projects. Input and recommendation are also made for these intersections. Construction plan review is performed regarding the technical aspects of the proposed traffic signal. Technical assistance is provided during the actual construction and final inspection of traffic signal components.
  
  During the annual paving overlay programs, assistance is provided with location of underground traffic signal components. Recommendations are also made to the Traffic Engineer.
Inter-County Bridges
- The Division is responsible for the opening of four (4) Inter County Bridges. (Avon dale, Bridge Street, Clay Street and Jackson Street.)
  
  Division personnel, along with Hudson County, open each bridge for Passaic Valley Sewage and Pleasure Boats using the Passaic River. An average of 100-125 openings is recorded each month. On occasion, the number of openings varies due to weather conditions, river traffic, breakdowns, or repairs.
Fleet Management
- Behind the scenes, Public Works' Fleet Management Administration supports municipal operations by procuring, fueling and maintaining hundreds of District government vehicles, from sedans to heavy equipment.
  
  The Division is also responsible for the procurement of motor vehicles and equipment and the maintenance of the County Fleet in a safe, serviceable, and fuel efficient condition.