Public Works Department

The Public Works Department undertakes winter maintenance operations on nearly 400 lane miles of local and state roadways.  Winter maintenance includes the plowing of snow and ice, and the application of anti-skid and anti-icing materials.  The Township contracts with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PENNDOT) to perform winter maintenance activities on select portions of state routes within our community.  Participation in the state winter maintenance program allows the Township to provide improved response time and a higher level of service to the motoring public during the inclement winter months.

When winter maintenance is necessary, main routes and state roads are addressed first, residential streets second, and cul-de-sacs third.  The application of anti-skid and anti-icing materials throughout the Township takes approximately ten hours, depending upon weather conditions.  However, snow plowing, over nearly 400 lane miles of public streets, can easily double the amount of time required maintenance operations.  The equipment used for winter maintenance includes a large assortment of trucks equipped with snow plows and material spreaders, a road grader, and front-end loaders.  Finally, the Township has strategically located its two storage facilities for anti-skid materials, with one facility at the Public Works building (south side) and the other in Koons Park (north side).  These facilities allow for the storage of approximately 2800 tons of roadway salt.

The Public Works Department maintains seven municipal bridges.  These bridges are inspected bi-annually by an engineering consultant under contract to Dauphin County.

Lower Paxton Township’s transportation system is heavily influenced by interstate highways and state routes that crisscross and interconnect our community.� PENNDOT maintains an extensive state-wide planning process for its capital facilities.� The following projects in Lower Paxton Township are listed on the 2005 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for Dauphin County:

• US22 safety improvements;
• Union Deposit near Nyes Road bridge replacement and resurfacing (complete);
• Union Deposit Road widening and resurfacing (complete);
• The Linglestown Square Project (final design);
• Replacement of the bridge over Beaver Creek on SR 2010;
• The Capital Beltway Project.

A Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) Sign Inventory and Management System demonstration project identified over 4,100 traffic control and warning signs that are maintained by the Public Works Department.  In addition, the Township has an undetermined number of street identification signs.  With an average replacement cost of over $150 per sign, the Township's initial capital investment in traffic control signs, alone, approaches $500,000.  The Public Works Department is responsible for sign installation and routine maintenance of signs damaged in motor vehicle accidents, vandalized by thoughtless individuals, or faded through over-exposure to the sun and weather.

The Public Works Department currently operates and maintains 34 traffic signals at the Township's signalized intersections.

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