Road District hours: Monday – Friday 7:00a.m. to 3:00p.m.
Office Phone: 815-623-7323 ext 23
AFTER HOURS TO REPORT A ROAD CONCERN : Please call Winnebago County Sheriff @ 815-282-2600
The Roscoe Township Highway is responsible for all of the road and bridges in the township jurisdiction. For a list of the Roscoe Township streets please go to the download center. Roscoe Township has approximately 75 miles of roads to maintain.
Some of the services that we provide:
- mow the ditches along the road right-of-way
- maintain road name signs, other road signs, and sign posts
- pick up garbage and debris in the ditches along the road right-of-way
- plow snow and provide ice control. We use a sand salt mix
- repair and maintain township roads and ditches
- trim and remove trees that may cause hazardous situations that are located in the road right-of-way
- issue culvert permits
- culvert permits are the only permits that the Township provides. All other permits are issued from Winnebago County Regional Planning at 815-319-4350
- Spring sweeping of excess salt sand mix
Other Highway information can be found in the Highway download center.
NOTICE TO ROSCOE TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS
Roscoe Township Highway Department wants to share some information with you so that we can do a better job of clearing snow from our roads in a timely and economic way.
Roscoe Township Highway Department is dedicated to doing the best job of snow removal possible, within the restraints of reasonable cost. By its nature, there will always be someone who is plowed first and last. We operate on routes designed to best utilize our equipment and to give the fastest economic service possible. Conditions such as when snow starts and stops, how wet or deep, and or how winds affect the timing, method and success of removal. There are times when it is impossible to make progress and we have to delay starting or pull off the road. And there are times and conditions where we may only plow to keep roads open. Your understanding and cooperation are very important to our efforts. With the best planning and efforts, there are still things that go wrong. If you need to report special problems, please call 623-7323 and leave a message. Snow crews can operate all hours of the night, so patience and understanding can go a long way. Here are some specific issues you may need to deal with from time to time:
OBSTRUCTION: Some residents like to landscape their yards close to the roads. For the safety of our snowplow crew, items such as rocks, bushes, fences, hedge-walls, and timbers should NOT be placed in the right-of-way. When placing markers of any kind they must be 18 inches off the road. The markers must also be break-away for the safety of our drivers and equipment. A road’s right of way is something often taken for granted but is more important than one might think. A typical person may recognize a right of way as the driving lanes, shoulders, ditches, and slight corners at intersections. In fact, a right of way is defined by the Illinois Department of Transportation as “the land, or interest therein, acquired for or devoted to a roadway.” In all likelihood, the township doesn’t own the land on both sides of the highway/roadway, but rather has an easement or a right to use the land for highway/roadway purposes. That easement is a public right of way. Although public easement distances vary, the state of Illinois recognizes 33’ feet from the center-line of the roadway. Homeowners who place objects within the easement or right of way may be liable for any damages or injuries that those objects may cause. These rights-of-way serve many purposes including allowing crews to push snow off the pavement several feet to make room for future snowfall. Damage to any obstructions (railroad ties, boulders, posts, cars, etc.) on the right-of-way will be the responsibility of the homeowner, as these obstructions are in violation of State Statues. At no time should piles of snow from driveways be pushed into the street as this can create hazardous conditions for the plow and driver.
MAILBOXES: Winter is hard on mailboxes. By their nature, they are in conflict with efforts to clear snow from the roads. At times, heavy slush discharged from a plow will knock down a mailbox. Most mailboxes, if properly placed and installed, will withstand heavy slush. The Township will NOT be responsible for damage done to mailboxes knocked down by heavy snow or slush. There are times, under difficult winter conditions; we may knock down a mailbox. If the mailbox is properly located and maintained, Roscoe will replace these damaged mailboxes with a regulation box (sorry, no fancy replacements). Each property owner is responsible for the condition of their mailbox and the approaches to them. Poorly maintained mailboxes may be lost to conditions other than damage by a plow. The homeowner is responsible for all damage other than a plow striking their mailbox.
DRIVEWAY: An unavoidable result of plowing snow is a ridge of snow along the road and at the end of driveways. Operators do what they can to minimize this when possible. You can help yourself by piling the snow you clear from your driveway to the right side (the side away from approaching traffic) will minimize the snow ridge on your drive.
CUL-DE-SACS: Are difficult to plow, please be aware that the township snow parking ordinance prohibits vehicles from being parked on streets after 1 ½ inches of snowfall until the street has been plowed or up to 48hrs afterward. The Township will not plow a cul-de-sac with parked cars.
GARBAGE CANS: Should be placed in your driveway and kept off the roads.
STUCK VEHICLES: Please do now ask or expect us to assist in pulling out stuck vehicles. We do not accept the liability nor do we have the proper equipment to do this. You should be prepared to call a local towing service should you get stuck.
For those of you who are newcomers especially from cities or southern states, you should make yourself aware of differences in conditions, in removal methods and in responsibilities. There are a number of government agencies responsible for roads in Roscoe Township. Knowing who to contact for a road problem could help expedite any problems you may experience. Please slow down and drive carefully during adverse condition.