The Highway Division Mission is to protect, maintain and improve the Town’s
roadway system, parking facilities and drainage facilities in a manner
that promotes maximum life, improves traffic flow and enhances both pedestrian
and vehicular safety; and to provide a level of routine and emergency repairs to
certain town vehicles and equipment that maximizes their life and minimizes down
time. The Highway Division is also responsible for the seasonal operation of the
drawbridge in Osterville and a courier service that provides interdepartmental
mail delivery.
Roadway Maintenance
The Roadway Maintenance program focuses on our core mission of infrastructure
maintenance, deals expeditiously with daily complaints, strives to complete the
preparations necessary for the following year’s roadway resurfacing program and
does a small amount of new construction. During winter storms, everyone works to
keep our roadways passable.
The Division maintains a listing of all public and private roads within the
town, as well as layouts of the town ways and many private ways.
Town Roads
The roadway maintenance program is responsible for 250 miles of town roads, 69
miles of town sidewalks, 4 miles of bike paths, 74 town parking lots, 6 bridges
and 4,000 drainage systems on town roads. The maintenance functions include
street sweeping, 92 gravel road gradings, 144 lane miles of road shoulder mowing
and brush removal, and litter control on all 250 miles of town roads. In
addition, the Division maintains 5,000 regulatory and non-regulatory signs on
town roads, repairs 6,332 guardrails on town roads and provides pavement
markings on town roads and parking lots.
Private Roads
Highway also performs emergency repairs and street sweeping on 200 miles of
private roads and maintains 2,600 non-regulatory signs on private roads.
Miscellaneous
Responsibilities include the Great Island drawbridge operation and a courier
service to move interdepartmental mail and handle road kill disposal. A small
office staff answers the telephone, dispatches, and deals with administrative
matters and equipment and supply procurement for the Department.
Equipment Support
The Equipment Support program maintains a 148 unit fleet of vehicles which
includes everything from automobiles to Zambonis. This service is provided for
all divisions as well as Natural Resources, Weights and Measures, Recreation,
Animal Control, Sandy Neck Rangers, and the Harbormaster. The Equipment support
Program also maintains 17 traffic signals, 13 school traffic flashing lights,
the Great Island drawbridge, and operates the municipal fueling depot.
that promotes maximum life, improves traffic flow and enhances both pedestrian
and vehicular safety; and to provide a level of routine and emergency repairs to
certain town vehicles and equipment that maximizes their life and minimizes down
time. The Highway Division is also responsible for the seasonal operation of the
drawbridge in Osterville and a courier service that provides interdepartmental
mail delivery.