Highway Department

The LaPorte County Highway Department is responsible for maintaining and preserving approximately 1,075 miles of public roadways, 119 bridges, hundreds of drainage structures, and many miles of side ditches along county roads located in unincorporated LaPorte County. Unincorporated areas are those outside the municipal boundaries of our cities and towns. This responsibility excludes State Roads and US Highways.

The department strives for safe and accessible roadways and continues to work to improve the transportation infrastructure for the citizens of LaPorte County.

LaPorte County Highway Department is responsible for:

• Paving
• Berming
• Patching of asphalt roads
• Chip & Seal maintenance
• Removal of debris
• Mowing of brush and grass along the county right-of-way
• Removal of trees and brush that have become road hazards
• Removal of snow
• Grading of gravel roads
• Replace and maintain culverts along the county right-of-way, including driveway culverts
• Work on drainage issues along county roads
• Maintenance of bridges
• Placement and maintenance of road signs
• Repair and replace damaged guardrail
• Maintenance of county highway vehicles

Requesting Service for County Roads in LaPorte County

If this is an emergency, please call 911.  For other types of service requests, please call (219)362-2051 during normal business hours.

Frost Law

What Are Frost Laws?

Frost laws, also known as seasonal weight restrictions, are implemented by the County Highway Department when the ground is thawing. The moisture, along with the consistent warming up and cooling down of the season, leaves certain roadways more vulnerable because the pavement is prone to weakening. The roads become very soft and easily damaged as the frost leaves the ground and the base of the roads.  The frost law has one sole purpose and that is to protect the county roads from damage caused by heavy loads.  When frost laws are in effect, drivers must reduce axle weight limits.  Frost laws vary from year to year depending on the weather.  Because they fluctuate, it’s important to check the LaPorte County Government website to find out if the frost law restrictions are in effect.

PAVING

The Highway Department aims to maintain and improve the quality of roadways within LaPorte County.

A significant amount of effort is required to prioritize which roads should be paved first. This involves:

• Road condition assessments (e.g., potholes, cracks, PAZER Ratings)
• Traffic volume and usage
• Safety concerns
• Community feedback and input

BERM MAINTENANCE

Berm maintenance on county roads is performed where deemed necessary to protect the road surface and to ensure proper water runoff.  This involves removing excess soil buildup along the edge, and making sure the berm slopes gently towards the roadside ditch to direct water away from the pavement.

Berming is done for the following reasons:

• To support the asphalt edge of the road and prevent deterioration.  Standing water on the road surface can weaken the base material and lead to potholes and other damage.
• To provide a smooth transition from the road edge to the existing grade of the landscape. Properly directed water flow minimizes erosion along the roadside and in ditches.
• To prevent storm water runoff from ponding and freezing.  This improves road safety by preventing water accumulation and reducing the risk of hydroplaning.

CHIP & SEAL

“Chip & Seal” is a common pavement maintenance practice that extends pavement life and provides a good driving surface.

How is Chip & Seal Different from Asphalt Overlays?

• Chip & Seal uses the same ingredients as asphalt paving but differs in the construction method. A thin film of heated asphalt liquid is sprayed on the road surface, followed by the placement of small aggregates (“chips”). The chips are then compacted to ensure maximum adherence to the asphalt, and any excess stone is swept from the surface.

Why Use Chip & Seal?

• Cost-Effective: Chip & Seal offers a low-cost method of road maintenance.
• Strengthens Road Base: It enhances the underlying road base.
• Eliminates Crack Sealing: It removes the need for crack sealing.
• Safety: Provides good skid resistance, enhancing road safety.
• Moisture Barrier: Acts as an effective moisture barrier, sealing cracks in the pavement and preventing water intrusion.
• Hot Weather Performance: In hot weather, it re-seals cracks by flowing back together.

What is the Chip & Seal Process?

1. Preparation: The road surface is cleaned of debris and any holes are patched.
2. Asphalt Application: An asphalt distributor truck sprays each lane with hot liquid asphalt to ensure an even application.
3. Chip Application: A chip spreader follows quickly with the rock application.  The asphalt must be fluid to embed the rock effectively.
4. Rolling: A roller sets the rock into the liquid asphalt, orienting the flat sides down for a tighter chip seal. It takes two to four passes of the roller to set the rock.
5. Sweeping: The process concludes with sweeping to remove surplus rock from the surface.
6. Fog Seal: In some instances, a light application of diluted asphalt emulsion mixed with water is used to seal the road surface.  The fog seal helps to hold the chips in place and prevent them from being dislodged, which can reduce the risk of vehicle damage from flying chips. It also helps to seal hairline cracks and improve the waterproofing of the surface.

Snow Removal Procedures

Snow removal is a critical task to ensure roads remain safe and passable during and after snow events.

It is the responsibility of the Highway Department to:

• Keep all roads open and traffic moving during snow and ice events.
• Protect and maintain the county’s roads through the timely removal of snow and ice.
• Ensuring the safety of the traveling public and all county work crews is the highest priority during a storm event.

One Time Snow Events

During one-time snow events, the Highway Department will plow/salt main thoroughfares and emergency routes, followed by side roads and subdivisions.

Continuing Snow Events

During snow events that continue over a few days, the Highway Department’s focus will be plowing/salting main thoroughfares and emergency routes, with single passes through subdivisions when possible. When the snow event subsides, the Highway Department will do a complete cleanup of all roads and streets.

Subdivisions and Cul-De-Sacs

Subdivisions and cul-de-sacs are prioritized for snow removal after main roads and high-traffic areas have been cleared. Our drivers strive to place snow in areas that minimize obstruction and inconvenience to residents. By doing so, we aim to ensure that snow removal in these areas is as efficient and unobtrusive as possible.

Driveways

Please understand that our plows cannot keep snow out of residents’ driveways. Snow from the roadway is pushed from the center to the edges, and it is the homeowner’s responsibility to clear the snow from the end of their driveway, as well as in front of the mailbox. This snow should not be placed back in the street.

Damages In Right-of-Way

Damage to the right-of-way is one of the unavoidable side-effects of clearing the roads and streets. Residents who place landscaping (shrubs, stones, and plantings other than sod) or irrigation systems in the right-of-way assume any liability for damage.

Damaged Mailbox

County plow drivers do their best to avoid mailboxes in the right-of-way. Mailboxes are rarely hit by a plow. Instead, it is the force of the snow coming off the plow that normally causes the damage. Mailboxes with weakened support are most vulnerable. Homeowners should make sure mailboxes are firmly attached to the post and that the post is constructed sturdily enough to withstand the weight of the snow as it comes off the end of the snowplow. Homeowners should also check the placement of their mailbox to ensure it is placed according to County Ordinance 2003-12.

Driveway Culverts

The following are guidelines, procedures, and standard practices related to the installation, maintenance, and repair of driveway culverts within the county road network.

New Driveway Installation by Property Owner/Contractor

Whenever a property owner requests a new driveway entrance that accesses a county road, they must follow these steps:

1. Obtain and submit a Driveway Permit to the LaPorte County Plan Commission.
2. The County Inspector will visit the proposed entrance site to assess the correct placement and size of the culvert pipe (if needed). Culverts shall be installed for each driveway that crosses an existing open or proposed ditch.
3. If approved, the property owner is responsible for all material costs and installation of the requested entrance.
4. It shall be the duty of the homeowner to keep all driveway culverts on their property in good condition and properly functioning.
5. Use insured and bonded contractors for work within the right-of-way.
6. Ensure that culverts comply with county standards.
7. After installation, the property owner must contact the LaPorte County Plan Commission to schedule an inspection. Once approved, the County assumes maintenance responsibilities for the new entrance.

Maintenance and Right-of-Way

The County Highway Department maintains driveway culverts located within the county’s right-of-way to ensure that the highway drainage systems are designed and constructed to collect, treat and remove stormwater from the roadway.  The County Highway Department will clean out culverts to ensure proper water flow.

The Property owners must adhere to the following:

• If any construction or landscaping damages or blocks a culvert, the property owners must remove it at their own expense.
• If a culvert is undersized for the stormwater flow that it accommodates or fails to accept such stormwater due to structural failure or wear and tear, then the owner of the property shall replace the culvert with a new and properly sized culvert at their own expense.
• If the property owner chooses, the County Highway Department will install the new culvert, free of charge.
  • Culverts can be purchased from the County Highway Department.
  • Up to 5 tons of fill material will be used to replace the culvert (dirt, stone, millings, etc.).  Any extra material will be charged to the property owner.
  • The property owner must fix concrete or asphalt driveways that are damaged due to damaged culverts or repairs.

County Highway Drainage Program

 The County Highway Drainage Program aims to address and resolve drainage issues affecting roadways and rights-of-way to maintain road safety, prevent water-related damage, and improve overall infrastructure longevity.

• Ensuring proper flow and reducing water accumulation in ditches.
• Fixing damaged drainage tiles to restore their functionality.
• Upgrading existing culverts to appropriate sizes to accommodate water flow and prevent overflow or blockages.
• Projects are prioritized based on the severity of drainage issues and their impact on roadway safety. The Highway Department works diligently to identify problem areas, develop effective solutions, and execute improvements in a timely and efficient manner.

Bridge Maintenance Program

The maintenance program involves the repair and replacement of 119 bridges in LaPorte County, including six major bridges. A bridge is classified as major if its span exceeds 200 feet.

Routine inspections are typically conducted every two years by an engineering firm, though the frequency can vary based on the bridge’s condition and risk factors.

The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) oversees bridge inspection activities for both state-owned and county-owned bridges in Indiana. INDOT utilizes a database called the Bridge Inspection Application System (BIAS) to manage bridge inventory and inspection data.

Most bridge projects are funded through a combination of local, state, and federal money.

Traffic Control Program

The LaPorte County Highway Department’s Traffic Control Program aims to ensure the safe and efficient movement of traffic on unincorporated county roads through the proper use and maintenance of traffic control devices.

The Highway Department operates and maintains its own Sign Shop, which is responsible for the upkeep and installation of all traffic signs, including street name, stop, and yield signs.

Traffic control devices are essential for guiding and instructing motorists. They include:

• Traffic signs (stop signs, yield signs, street name signs, etc.)
• Pavement markings (lines, arrows, crosswalks, etc.)

The LaPorte County Highway Department complies with the MUTCD, the Indiana Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, as mandated by law.

All requests for new or revised signs are carefully evaluated through the department and the County Engineer to determine if they are warranted. This ensures that any changes made to traffic control devices are both necessary and beneficial for road safety.