What roads does the Clay County Highway Department maintain?
How is the Highway Department funded?
Why aren’t all the roads in Clay County paved?
How do you decide when a road will be resurfaced?
Why was the road all ground up before a new asphalt or chip seal surface was
laid?
How many miles of road can be resurfaced each year?
How do I report potholes or other problems with the road?
When you reclaim my road, will there be oil on the road?
When you chip seal my road, will there be oil on the road?
Why are there delays in starting or finishing the chip seal surface?
Will my street be closed when it is resurfaced with asphalt or chip seal?
What is “right of way”?
Why did the Highway Department damage part of my yard while they were working
on the road?
Will the Highway Department pick up dead deer or other animals on County roads?
Will the Highway Department cut brush on County right of ways?
Who mows the right of ways on Clay County roads? How often is mowing done?
Who is responsible for cleaning out my driveway tube?
Q. What roads does the Clay County Highway Department maintain?
A. The Highway Department is responsible for maintaining 378 miles of roads and streets in unincorporated Clay County. At the end of 2007, Clay County had 145 miles of asphalt road, 191 miles of chip seal roads, and 42 miles of gravel roads.
Missouri highways with number or letter names, US highways and Interstate highways are maintained by the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT). All streets within city limits are maintained by that city. (back)
Q. How is the Highway Department funded?
A. The Highway Department budget is limited to the funds allocated by the County Commission each year and to additional revenue received through MoDOT from state and federal funding. Commission funding is obtained through sales taxes in Clay County and the Highway Department also receives 1/3 of the Use Tax collected in Clay County. Additionally, the Road & Bridge tax collected in Clay County is partially allocated to cities and special road districts with the remainder allocated to the Highway Department. (back)
Q. Why aren’t all the roads in Clay County paved?
A. The Highway Department budget is limited and paving is costly. Our long-term goal is to pave all County roads, but with our limited budget it will take a number of years to accomplish this. (back)
Q. How do you decide when a road will be resurfaced?
A. Road resurfacing is prioritized first by ADT (Average Daily Travel) and then by the number of years since the road was last resurfaced. The decision about whether a road will be surfaced with new asphalt or with chip seal is based strictly on ADT numbers. Because of the high cost of asphalt surfacing, only roads with the highest ADT counts are surfaced with new asphalt. (back)
Q. Why was the road all ground up before a new asphalt or chip seal surface was laid?
A. The process of grinding and re-laying the road base is called reclaiming. Reclaiming roadways before laying chip seal makes a stronger road base so the road will hold up to heavier traffic loads for longer periods of time. After the reclaimer machine grinds the road base, additional rock is incorporated into the base to make it thicker. A stronger base means less chip seal will be needed for a durable surface. Reclaiming roadways in Clay County allows more miles of road to be surfaced while staying within budgetary limits. (back)
Q. How many miles of road can be resurfaced each year?
A. The number of miles to be resurfaced each year is dependent upon available funding. The cost of oils and rock, manpower available, weather conditions, and any emergency or disaster work needed have a direct affect on how much resurfacing can be completed. (back)
Q. How do I report potholes or other problems with the road?
A. You may call the Highway Department to report potholes or any other road problems. (back)
Q. When you reclaim my road, will there be oil on the road?
A. No. When a road is reclaimed, rock is added and the road is rolled and re-compacted immediately. (back)
Q. When you chip seal my road, will there be oil on the road?
A. Yes. First, a primer oil coat is applied and left standing until the primer has set (usually 24-48 hours). To ensure a smoother and more durable finished surface, the Highway Department recommends that you avoid driving on the road during this time if possible. If you must drive on the road, please drive very slowly (under 5 mph) and stay away from the middle of the road as much as possible. This will also help prevent getting oil on your vehicle. (back)
After the primer has set, a sealer oil coat is applied and rock chips are added and rolled into the road surface. When this process is completed, the road should be hard, smooth and mostly oil free. However, it is possible that oil may rise to the surface or “bleed” through, especially in hot weather. If this occurs, rock dust will be added as a blotter. (back)
Q. Why are there delays in starting or finishing the chip seal surface?
A. The road must be dry before the primer oil coat can be applied. So if it rains, the start date of work may be delayed. Since the primer oil coat must set before work on the road can continue, it may look like no work is being done during this time. If it rains on the primer or if traffic related damage occurs, the work may be delayed. (back)
Q. Will my street be closed when it is resurfaced with asphalt or chip seal?
A. One-way traffic may be allowed in some situations, however when new road surfaces are being laid, minimal traffic on the road speeds up the work, is better for the new surface, and is also safer for the road crew and for the public. If you can avoid using a road when work is being done, please do so. (back)
A. “Right of way” is the land on which a public road is built. In Clay County, the right of way usually extends 30’ to the left and right from the center of the road. In some subdivisions, the right of way distances may vary. Please check with the Highway Department about right of way for specific locations. The Highway Department is responsible for maintaining the right of way as needed for traffic safety. This includes allowing utility easements. (back)
Q. Why did the Highway Department damage part of my yard while they were working on the road?
A. In some cases, homeowners have extended their yards into the County right of ways. Highway Department personnel make every effort not to damage these areas, but the roadways and ditches must be maintained. If it is necessary for County vehicles to be on private property, the Highway Department will contact the property owner to make the necessary arrangements. (back)
Q. Will the Highway Department pick up dead deer or other animals on County roads?
A. If a deer or other animal is on or near the roadway and is creating a traffic hazard, the Highway Department will move the carcass off the roadway. Since we have no way to dispose of the dead animal, we will not remove a carcass from the ditch. (back)
Q. Will the Highway Department cut brush on County right of ways?
A. If brush causes a visibility or maintenance hazard, the Highway Department will cut brush on County right of ways. (back)
Q. Who mows the right of ways on Clay County roads? How often is mowing done?
A. Each mowing season, a full-time mowing crew mows all roadways. Right of ways are mowed at least once each season and more often if possible. (back)
Q. Who is responsible for cleaning out my driveway tube?
A. The property owner is responsible for maintaining the driveway tube. If
a ditch is badly eroded, you may contact the Highway Department for assistance
in repairing the erosion. (back)