The construction season is getting underway and county highway departments are operational, fixing roads and bridges, filling potholes, and paving roads while promoting social distancing. “This is our primary job,” said Todd Gadd, president of the New York State County Highway Superintendents Association. “But we are always, as a group, looking for ways to help during the coronavirus challenge beyond essential road work.”
Some of the highway superintendents and public works commissioners are involved directly with their county emergency operation centers. Many highway departments are assisting with human service needs and participating in volunteer efforts across the state.
“Our membership has regular calls and email discussions where we exchange information on what highway departments are doing to assist the state’s and communities’ response to the pandemic. We’re a close-knit group, and we’re all in this together,” Gadd explained.
Many county road crews have deployed available variable message sign (VMS) boards to display messages reminding the public of the importance of helping to contain the virus. Messages such as “Stay Home,” “Social Distance,” and “Flatten the Curve” are now visible to motorists and pedestrians throughout the state via these VMS signs.
But the main function of the highway departments – maintaining the transportation system – seems all the more important lately.
“Springtime in the Northeast always brings with it the need for infrastructure repairs and rehabilitations to begin,” said Gadd. “We recognize that many travelers on our systems are first responders, hospital and health care workers, EMTs and other providers of essential services. Highway workers have always viewed their jobs as essential. Now more than ever, we are focused on this mission on behalf of those front-line workers who need to get to their destinations quickly and safely to serve the public and save lives, and get home again to their families.”
“On behalf of the county municipalities, I want to thank all essential workers for their heroic contributions to fighting this pandemic, and to reaffirm that we are here to support you to the greatest extent possible,” Gadd concluded.
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