Department Summary

The mission of the Saline County Road and Bridge Department is to maintain all Saline County roads and bridges in a safe and convenient condition for the traveling public while practicing sound financial management, respect for the environment, and sensitivity to community concerns and to provide a safe working environment for its employees. To view the Saline County Codes click here

Safety Mission Statement

We will take personal responsibility for safety and are committed to ensuring that we cause no harm to ourselves, our co-workers, and the community in which we operate. Our goal is to maintain an incident-free, secure and healthy workplace. Working in a safe, secure, and responsible manner is an inherent part of our jobs and a condition of employment for each of us. Each of us will take the appropriate steps, including discontinuing operations, if necessary, to correct actions and conditions before they lead to incidents, and no one will undertake any task unless it can be done in a safe and responsible manner.

Saline County Road and Bridge Department has an Engineering Division and Maintenance Division with separate duties and responsibilities.

Engineering Division

Provides engineering design, surveying, drafting, construction specifications, and construction inspections related to the county road, bridge, and drainage projects. This division also maintains county road right-of-way, section corners, and bridge inspection records, conducts traffic studies, and provides support for the Maintenance Division. Other duties include permitting the construction of entrances/driveways, public utility installation, and all other work within the county road right-of-way.

Maintenance Division

Responsible for management oversight of county road and bridge maintenance. This work includes but is not limited to: Gravel/earth road maintenance, pipe culvert installation, mowing, tree removal, traffic paint striping, traffic signs, and snow/ice control.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which roads are plowed first?

Asphalt roads are cleared first, then gravel roads, then earth roads.

Why did you mow the crops?

Right of ways are a clear zone for the safety of the traveling public. The right of way easements are for road purposes. Breaking the vegetation and tilling the soil allows the sediment from runoff to plug the culverts.

Why are you cutting down trees on my road? What is that monster that is destroying the trees on my road?

Trees within the right of way are a hazard to the traveling public. Tree limbs shade the travel way and do not allow the sun to dry the road or melt the ice. They also create line of sight hazards.

The cutter head is the safest, most efficient and cost effective way to eliminate this hazard. The trees will grow back.

Can I fill in the ditch and plant trees in front of my property?

No, the ditch is for road drainage purposes. Trees are not to be planted in the right of way.

Why do you spread all that tar and gravel on the paved roads? There was nothing wrong with the road and now it is a mess!!

The process you are referring to is sealcoating which most road agencies in Kansas use as a relatively low cost method of preserving existing pavement. The tar is actually an emulsion of water and liquid asphalt which penetrates and seals small cracks in the existing pavement. Sealing these cracks on a regular basis prevents water from seeping into and softening the base of the road and over time causing potholes to form. The rock chips that we use for cover material sticks to the emulsion and, after rolling and sweeping, provides a slightly roughened skid resistant surface to improve safety. Although sealcoating can preserve and extend the life of the pavement, it is only a surface treatment and does not fill any existing bumps, holes, or irregularities and thus does not improve the ride quality. For this reason it is important to apply sealcoat to a road BEFORE this deterioration occurs, which leads us to sealcoat roads that are in generally good condition rather than waiting for them to deteriorate to the point that extensive patching is necessary. 

What is pulling shoulders, and why does it need to be done?

Pulling shoulders is a maintenance procedure that takes place throughout the year, mostly in the early spring on gravel roads and in the fall on the paved roads. It is a process in which the motors grader travel down all the roads removing the high sods from the shoulders roads.  When the shoulders of a road are to high and water sits on the traveled roadway, the BCRC pulls the high shoulders to allow the water to drain in properly into the ditches.   On gravel roads the shoulders are pulled into the road and mixed back into the road with the existing gravel.  Pulling shoulders does not always remove all of the water from the roadway, but it allows many roads to drain properly and prevent further damage to the road.

Meet Our Staff

staff-images
Justin Mader

County Engineer

(785) 826-6527

staff-images
Wayne Scritchfield

Asst County Engineer / County Surveyor

(785) 826-6527

staff-images
Darren Fishel

Road and Bridge Administrator

(785) 826-6527

staff-images
Jerry Peters

Road Superintendent

(785) 826-6527

staff-images
Tyson Gold

Assistant Road Superintendant

(785) 826-6527

staff-images
Elizabeth Crump

Administrative Assistant

(785) 826-6527

CONTACT OUR OFFICE

3424 Airport Road
Salina, KS 67401
(785) 826-6527
Hours: 8 AM - 4:30 PM
(Memorial Day - Labor day hours are 7 AM - 3:30 PM)
Closed Weekends & Holidays
Contact Us