The Warren County Roads Division delivers a wide range of services to the county, including construction, inspection and maintenance of public infrastructure including roadways, traffic control devices and flood control facilities for stormwater management.  The Division maintains 560 lane miles and nearly 3,000 catch basins, as well as multiple stormwater systems.  Major functions of the Division include:

Road Maintenance

The County Engineering Department schedules various roads every year for resurfacing with asphalt.  Asphalt is the most popular type of material for road resurfacing.  Advantages of this material is that is produces relatively little noise, is easy to repair and maintain and is low cost compared to other materials.

The Roads Division is responsible for maintaining conditions of roads to ensure they remain safe for travel by motorists and pedestrians and to ensure stormwater is contained to prevent flooding and erosion.  This is achieved by several programs, including the Crack Seal Program and Bituminous Surface Treatment. 

Another preventative maintenance program, for resurfaced roads with higher traffic volumes, is Microsurfacing, a process administered by the Warren County Engineering Department.

Crack Seal Program:  It is normal for cracks to begin to develop on newly resurfaced roads after about one year, which lead to distressed areas.  Distressed areas can be defined as longitudinal wheel path cracking, longitudinal joint cracking, pavement edge cracking and transverse cracks.  The Roads Divisions has developed a Crack Tar Program that is scheduled yearly on roads that have been resurfaced within the past year.  The tar is applied hot to all cracks on the surface of the road when the road surface is above 35 degrees F and below 60 degrees F.  The purpose is to prevent water intrusion which can lead to further damage to the road.

Bituminious Surface Treatment: Various roads throughout the county are oil and chip roads. These roads are low traffic volume roads.  On average, we schedule 15 miles annually for this preventative maintenance treatment.  Prior to treatment, we apply a leveling course of liquid asphalt chip seal with a thin layer of aggregate at 1/4" thickness to protect the underlying pavement while increasing surface friction.  This creates a new wearing course, as well as a waterproof covering for the existing pavement.  

Stormwater Management

Stormwater management is the control and use of stormwater runoff.  It includes maintaining and improving stormwater systems and regulating the collection, storage and movement of stormwater.

The Municipal Stormwater Regulation Program was developed in response to the U.S. EPA's Phase II rules, published in December 1999.   The EPA issued final stormwater rules on February 2, 2004 and four NJDEP general permits authorizing stormwater discharges away from Tier A and Tier B muncipalities, as well as public complexes and highway agencies that discharge stormwater from municipal sewer systems.  The general permits also address stormwater quality issues related to new development, redevelopment and existing development.  The Roads Division is responsible for adhering to the state-mandated Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SPPPS), which details activities in a report submitted to the state annually.  Access the annual Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan here.

Highway agencies include County, State, Interstate and Federal government agencies that operate highways and other thoroughfares.  

The Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan report includes:

• Inspection of all catch basins on County roads
• Amount of material (in tons) removed from the basins
• Number of catch basin repairs
• Number of new basins constructed, and location
• Amount of sweepings material (tons) removed from the roadway by month
• Mapping of all outfalls under the County's jurisdiction
• Areas of erosion and scouring that have been repaired
• A roadside vegetation program
• Conduct annual employee training on stormwater issues and management
• Provide standard operating procedures for vehicle and equipment fueling
• Provide standard operating procedures for vehicle maintenance
• Provide standard operating procedures for good housekeeping

Road Infrastructure, Repairs and Maintenance of Sightlines

The Roads Division upholds an annual program of road repairs, and it contracts for guide rail repairs and tree removal through the Morris County Cooperative Purchasing system.  This is to ensure that guide rails damaged by accidents are repaired and trees that have become hazardous to the roadway are removed in a timely manner.  Additionally, brush cutting is performed year round in areas that are wooded and limbs have become a hazard to road conditions.  Roadside mowing begins in April and continues into November along areas of the County roads that are not maintained by residents.  Mowing provides a sightline for intersections as well as wildlife at the roadside.

• Pothole repairs caused by winter conditions
• Repair and replacement of stormwater piping
• Repair to and construction of new catch basins
• Salt, grit and plow roads in wintery weather conditions