Who Owns the Culvert Under Your Driveway?

June 8, 2026
Listed in Stormwater Management

Homeowners often assume that because a driveway connects to a public road, the culvert underneath it must belong to the town, county, or state. In most cases, however, that assumption is incorrect. Typically, the property owner owns the driveway culvert and is responsible for its maintenance, repair, and replacement. But as with many things in public works, the real-world situation is not always black and white. Municipalities frequently become involved with driveway culverts even when they are …continue

Who Is Responsible for the Sidewalks in Your Town?

June 7, 2026
Listed in Other Assets

Ask ten residents who is responsible for maintaining sidewalks in their town and you may receive ten different answers. Some assume the municipality handles everything. Others believe the adjacent property owner is fully responsible. In reality, sidewalk responsibility is often far more complicated than most people realize. In many communities, sidewalk ownership, maintenance, snow removal, repair responsibilities, and legal liability are divided among multiple parties. These responsibilities ma…continue

Why Sidewalk Inspections Matter

June 7, 2026
Listed in Other Assets

Sidewalks are among the most heavily used pieces of public infrastructure in any community. Residents rely on them every day for walking, jogging, accessing businesses, reaching schools, and connecting to transit systems. Yet despite their importance, sidewalks are often overlooked until someone trips, falls, or files a complaint. Regular sidewalk inspections help municipalities identify hazards early, prioritize repairs, reduce liability exposure, and improve accessibility for all users. A stru…continue

Why Every Highway Department Needs a Written Mailbox Replacement Policy

May 9, 2026
Listed in Other Assets

Few things create complaints during winter faster than damaged mailboxes. Every snow season, highway and public works departments receive calls from angry residents claiming that snowplows destroyed their mailbox. Some complaints involve mailboxes physically struck by plow equipment, while others involve boxes damaged by the force of heavy snow discharged from the plow blade. Without a clear written policy, mailbox complaints can quickly become inconsistent, emotional, politically charged, and d…continue

How to Actually Score Pavement Condition (Without Overthinking PCI)

April 20, 2026
Listed in Road Maintenance

If you’ve spent any time trying to assign a Pavement Condition Index (PCI) score, you’ve probably run into the same problem: the road isn’t uniform. Most of it looks good, but a short section might be failing badly. Suddenly, assigning a single number feels subjective and uncomfortable. This is where many people get stuck. The truth is that PCI was never meant to produce a perfect, universally “correct” number. It is a structured way to summarize pavement condition …continue