THE ROADWAY ISSUE 6 •
JUNE 2022
TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction • P. 1 Message from the Director • P. 2 Employee Spotlight • P. 3
KEEPING YOU INFORMED This month's issue features information on the 2022 Annual Roadway Maintenance Program, employee spotlight, Adopt-A-Road program, and Peak Alerts. We hope this newsletter helps you learn more about how we serve you, your neighborhood, and El Paso County.
Annual Roadway Maintenance Program • P. 4 Adopt-A-Road Program • P. 7 Peak Alerts • P. 8 Major Transportation Corridors Plan • P. 9 Featured Projects • P. 10 Year-to-Date Stats • P. 11
MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR J A C K
L A D L E Y
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I N T E R I M
D I R E C T O R
El Paso County Department of Public Works crews work hard every day on construction and maintenance projects throughout the county. Keeping our roads safe and efficient is something we take great pride in, and we constantly work to keep them that way. As you drive around these project sites, you will notice new signs that say, "A Project of El Paso County." KEEPING OUR ROADS SAFE AND EFFICIENT IS SOMETHING WE TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN, AND WE CONSTANTLY WORK TO KEEP THEM THAT WAY.
El Paso County is a good steward of funding and resources, and our crews are doing their best to keep County roads safe and maintained for residents and visitors. In this month's newsletter, you will also find information about the El Paso County AdoptA-Road Program, which is an opportunity for individuals and groups to partner with Public Works to help keep our roadways safe and looking beautiful.
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EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT S E A N
M A R K L E Y
Sean Markley started working for the El Paso County Department of Public Works in February 2021 as a Seasonal General Maintenance Worker supporting the Highway Department and helping keep our roads safe and clean. When the seasonal position ended, he transitioned to the Entry Level program. The program, now called General Maintenance I, prepares employees to get their Commercial Driver's License (CDL) Class B and gives them the opportunity to work on different crews, including Asphalt, General Maintenance, Truck String, and Drainage. He moved through the program with nothing but praise from his coworkers and trainers. After successfully completing the program and obtaining his Commercial Driver's License, he was assigned to the Asphalt crew, where he filled potholes and sealed cracks in the roads. Upon hearing that a training coordinator position was available, he applied and was hired. Sean is a great addition to the training program. He approaches every day with a positive attitude and never complains. Keeping our roads safe is one of his favorite aspects of working for El Paso County, as well as the career advancement opportunities, benefits, and schedule flexibility the county offers.
“Leave a job better than you found it” ~Sean’s work motto is a life lesson he learned from his grandfather PG 3
2022 ANNUAL ROADWAY MAINTENANCE PROGRAM Routine maintenance helps keep El Paso County’s roads safe and extends the life of our roadways. El Paso County is committed to a safe and efficient road network through a cost-effective maintenance program. Every year, El Paso County makes tough decisions about the maintenance plan for our roads. The goals of the Roadway Maintenance program are to: Preserve and extend the lifespan of our roads while maximizing the use of available funds and resources Improve safety and performance of the entire road network and reduce travel delays Ensure labor, equipment, materials, and funding are used effectively Public Works will maintain approximately 441 lane miles in El Paso County this year through the 2022 Road Maintenance Program. The list of roads is selected based on many factors, including: Pavement Quality Index (PQI) - a numerical rating for the condition of roads within the road network. The PQI indicates the current condition of the road and the anticipated rate of deterioration of that road over time Average daily volume of traffic on a road segment ADA compliance requirements Associated condition of curb, gutter, and sidewalks
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CHIP SEAL 69.97 LANE MILES Chip Seal is a two-step process that involves first applying asphalt emulsion and then a layer of crushed rock to an existing asphalt pavement surface. Benefits of Chip Seal: Enhances safety by providing skid resistance Provides moisture barrier for underlying pavement against water intrusion Prevents asphalt deterioration due to oxidation and aging from water and sunlight Extends the service life by 5 to 7 years, delaying the need for resurfacing by 2 to 4 years.
PAVE 57.52 LANE MILES Paving (Mill and Asphalt Overlay) involves grinding the existing asphalt and base material, removing it, and applying new pavement. Benefits of Paving: Provides a new waterproof surface Helps mitigate the deterioration of pavement by loss of asphalt and rocks Corrects surface irregularities and improves the ride quality Extends the pavement life by 8 to 14 years depending on the thickness
GRAVEL 98.38 LANE MILES The surface of gravel roads deteriorates over time due to weather and vehicle traffic. Graveling is performed to rebuild the riding surface of the gravel road. Crews prepare subgrade, clean, and reshape ditches and cross/driveway culverts as needed. They will also add or replace damaged culverts as required. Crews then haul fresh gravel to spread across the roadway to create a stable gravel surface. DPW utilizes in-house and contract trucks to haul materials to the roadway maintenance sites. Benefits of Graveling Enhance driving experience Improve roadway maintainability
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DUST ABATEMENT The dust abatement process reduces dust on gravel roads. The operation uses a reclaimer machine, multiple graders, large water distribution trucks, rubber tires, and drum rollers. Moving no more than 8 mph, the reclaimer works like a giant tiller. On El Paso County roads, crews dig up to 3 inches of gravel and mix it with a special water and magnesium chloride solution. The reason for using magnesium chloride is that it is very effective in controlling moisture. It helps create a stable road base and keeps the dust down by taking in moisture from the air and surrounding environment and retaining it for a long time. Once the mixture is deposited onto the road, a fleet of rollers follow to compact and shape the road surface. Graders are then used to smooth out the road. Benefits of Dust Abatement Minimize the amount of routine maintenance required Improve sight distance with dust reduction Enhance driving experience Increase safety on the road Reduce dust particulates in the air For a list of roads in 2022 that will be chip sealed, paved, graveled, and dust abated, please visit https://publicworks.elpasoco.com/road-bridge/construction-maintenance-projects.
SCAN CODE TO ACCESS A LIST OF ROADS THAT WILL BE CHIP SEALED, PAVED, GRAVELED, OR DUST ABATED IN 2022
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ADOPT - A - ROAD PROGRAM El Paso County's Adopt-A-Road program is a great opportunity for individuals or groups to volunteer to help keep the county's roadways safe and clean. El Paso County is a beautiful place to live and visit. Keeping our roadways litter-free helps us maintain our beauty. In 2021, Keep America Beautiful, a national nonprofit on litter education and prevention, released the largest study on littering in the United States. Among the key findings were: Nearly 50 billion pieces of litter along U.S. roadways and waterways More than 2,000 pieces of litter per mile (both roadway and waterway) Slightly more litter along waterways (25.9B) than roadways (23.7B) 90% of people surveyed believe litter is a problem in their state Most littered item remains cigarette butts Adopting a county road is a great way for residents to contribute to the region's safety, health, and beauty and show their pride in El Paso County. Summer is the best time to enjoy the Colorado sunshine and get some exercise while keeping El Paso County roads clean and litter-free. WHO CAN ADOPT-A-ROAD? Individuals Families Groups including service clubs, churches, scout groups, associations, organizations WHAT IS REQUIRED? Volunteers agree to pick up litter from both sides of a two-mile section of County Road a minimum of four times per year. Volunteers are encouraged to sort litter when picking up and take recyclable materials to recycling centers. The individual or group may keep any money collected from recycling. WHAT DOES EL PASO COUNTY PROVIDE? Litter bags and safety vests Haul away full litter bags after volunteers place them near the roadside Sign recognizing a group or individual who has volunteered on an adopted section of road For more on the El Paso County Adopt-A-Road Program or to download an application, please visit: https://publicworks.elpasoco.com/adopt-a-road/.
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PEAK ALERTS Have you signed up for Peak Alerts? El Paso County Public Works wants to help spread the word about Peak Alerts. WHAT ARE PEAK ALERTS? Peak Alerts are notifications sent through software called Everbridge, by public safety agencies in El Paso and Teller Counties. Peak Alerts notify you of emergency situations that threaten life or property and are deemed dangerous by public safety officials. WHAT EMERGENCY SITUATIONS DO PEAK ALERTS NOTIFY YOU ABOUT? Peak Alerts notify you of emergencies near your registered address(es) or current location (if you use the Everbridge app). Emergency situations may include but are not limited to natural or man-made disasters, hazardous materials incidents, missing persons, law enforcement activity impacting the public, evacuation notices, and more. HOW DOES PEAK ALERT SEND YOU A MESSAGE? When you sign up for Peak Alerts, you can choose how you want to receive the message. Peak Alerts can send notifications via text, phone call, email, mobile app, fax, etc. HOW DO I SIGN UP FOR PEAK ALERTS? To learn more about Peak Alerts and sign up for notifications, visit www.peakalerts.org, download the Everbridge app from Google Play, Apple Store, or go to https://www.everbridge.com/app/. Peak Alerts is one tool to learn about emergencies happening near you. During an emergency, you should stay informed using various forms of communication - monitor news broadcasts, radio stations, social media, websites, weather radios, etc. If you feel you are in danger at any time, you should take whatever steps you feel are necessary to get to safety.
SCAN CODE TO DOWNLOAD APP PG 8
EL PASO COUNTY MAJOR TRANSPORTATION CORRIDORS PLAN In early 2022, El Paso County began the process of updating the Major Transportation Corridors Plan (MTCP). The current 2040 MTCP, adopted in 2016, is a long-range plan focusing on the transportation system, transportation investments, and development coordination in unincorporated El Paso County. To address the dynamic nature of growth and change in the County, the MTCP is regularly updated. The 2045 MTCP will incorporate updated information such as 2020 Census data, updated planning from the County's incorporated areas, and project phasing recommendations. The plan will also address transportation funding, technology, environmental considerations, and vulnerable populations. El Paso County wants to make sure the recommendations and priorities developed for the 2045 MTCP reflect the values and needs of those who live, work, visit, and recreate in the County. Therefore, phase one of public engagement launches on June 21, 2022, and spans four weeks. Community members can learn more and provide input at https://www.2045mtcp.com/. Your feedback will help us understand the community's issues, opportunities, and preferences related to transportation. It is anticipated that the Draft 2045 MTCP will be available for public review in mid-2023 and adopted in late 2023. To stay informed about the status of the El Paso County MTCP, be sure to sign up for the 2045 MTCP project email updates and visit our webpage at https://www.2045mtcp.com/.
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ELBERT ROAD BRIDGE MAINTENANCE El Paso County began maintenance on Elbert Road Bridge on May 31, 2022. Elbert Road will be closed between Latigo Blvd and Murphy Rd. The project includes demolition of the existing bridge deck, construction of a new reinforced concrete bridge deck, bridge roadway approach improvements, bridge painting, and repaving of the bridge and approach roadway. Elbert Rd will be closed north of Latigo Blvd and south of Murphy Rd to through traffic. Elbert Rd will be closed completely at the bridge north of Latigo Rd and south of Murphy Rd. Drivers will be detoured on US HWY 24 to Bradshaw Rd for northbound traffic and on Murphy Rd to Bradshaw Rd for southbound traffic. Drivers are reminded to reduce speeds and watch for workers, equipment, signs, and barricades. Drivers are also encouraged to seek an alternate route of travel. .
PROJECT AT-A-GLANCE
CURRENT ALLOCATED FUNDING PROJECT FUNDING
$1.3 Million Road and Bridge Fund / Federal Funding
ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE
September 21, 2022
COMMISSIONER DISTRICT
District 2
WWW.PUBLICWORKS.ELPASOCO.COM PG 10
WORK IN REVIEW (YTD) LANE MILES SERVICED
34
72
MILES GRAVELED
MILES DUST ABATED
3974
POTHOLES REPAIRED
CUSTOMER SERVICE REQUESTS
249
CUSTOMER SERVICE REQUESTS COMPLETED
TOP CUSTOMER SERVICE REQUESTS (YTD 2022) TRASH REMOVAL 12.4% ANIMAL REMOVAL 10.6%
POTHOLES 36%
SIGNAGE 22.2% GRADING 18.8%
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EL PASO COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS 3275 AKERS DRIVE COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO 80922 719.520.6879 WWW.PUBLICWORKS.ELPASOCO.COM
