Highway

Mission Statement

The mission of the Cayuga County Highway Department is to maintain 516 miles of county roads and 43 county-owned bridges in a safe operating condition for the reasonable and prudent driver. Additionally, the department:

• Plows and sands approximately 125 miles of state highways
• Provides equipment and labor support to other county departments, agencies and 23 towns of Cayuga County
• Provides equipment support to other municipalities in the county

Functions & Responsibilities

Annually the department schedules between 70 to 100 miles for surface treatment or chipping. Surface treating is a pavement preventative measure comparable to painting a house or sealing a driveway. The work consists of applying an asphalt emulsion followed by adding stone and then rolling the stone with a rubber-tired roller. For the first few days after the work is done, there will be loose stone so it is important that when driving on a newly surface treated road that speed is reduced to limit the amount of flying stone.

The highway department also paves or recycles roads in addition to the roads that are chipped. The work is more extensive and can take several days to several weeks to complete.

And whereas chipping is a preventative measure paving or recycling provides a longer lasting surface and improves the structure of the pavement. All work is scheduled 1 year in advance and is approved by county Legislature.

Organization of the Department

The department consists of 52 personnel organized into office/administration, engineering support section, road crews, vehicle and equipment maintenance section and motor pool section.

The fleet consists of 22 dump and plow trucks, 5 dedicated 4 by 4 plow trucks, 1 snow blower, 1 heavy duty wrecker 15 pickups and 40 other pieces of construction equipment ranging from compressors and mowers to loaders and a bulldozer all valued at over $7.2 million.

County Maps

County maps are available for purchase from the County Highway Department. For a nominal fee. The cost per map is $2 if mailed or for multiple copies. Checks need to be made payable to Cayuga County Highway Department.

Bid Packets

Annually the highway department bids for road maintenance materials, supplies and equipment rentals. After the bids are approved by the County Legislature a packet with all of the approved bids is developed.

Any municipal entity in the Cayuga County may purchase any item in the packet at the price listed. By purchasing items off the county bid it relieves the municipal agency from bidding out for the same item.

Advertising Bids

Find Cayuga County bidding information on the Central New York Purchasing System (CNYP).