The Street Department shares the responsibility of maintaining Watertown's storm water management systems by mowing detention ponds, cleaning trash screens on storm sewer inlets, and clearing and regrading overland flow paths. The Street Department is largely responsible for the annual spring city-wide cleanup week held in May. The department also assists in the construction of numerous park and recreation amenities. 

The Street Department activities include:

• Blading and graveling of gravel surfaces and township obligations every four to six weeks
• Spraying and mowing right of way
• Milling and paving, control of same
• Paving 50 to 60 blocks per year
• Seal coating 160 blocks per year
• Drainage system cleaning and mowing
• Repair of equipment
• Specification for new equipment
• Current recall list
• Safety programs: public, employee, and workers
• Snow fencing: 10th Avenue North, Third Avenue North, Cutts Avenue, City Park, North Ridge, and 10th Avenue North gardens
• Mix salt and sand
• Apply sanding mixture
• Snow removal and snow removal from downtown
• Sweeping all streets and avenues every three to four weeks
• Extensive patching of city streets
• Spring run-off control
• Material specification for city
• Traffic control devices and signs
• Traffic striping and markings

Look through the following helpful resources:

• Emergency Snow Route Maps
• Snow Removal Information

Snow & Ice Data Summaries

• 2016-2017
• 2017-2018
• 2018-2019
• 2019-2020

*Per hour rate includes operator
**One hour minimum charge. After 1 hour, charged to the nearest quarter hour

Guidelines:

• All excavations require a permit from the Engineering Dept. at 23 2nd St NE, 605-882-6202. Also, contact the Street Department to inform them of the excavation, 605-882-6207. Failure to obtain an excavation permit is punishable by up to a $200 fine.
  
  
• Maximum repair area by city forces will be 100 sq. ft. or less (unless preauthorized by the Street Superintendent).
  • Repairs larger than 100 sq. ft. (unless preauthorized by the Street Superintendent) must be repaired by an asphalt contractor approved by the Street Superintendent
• Asphalt depth is to be 4” minimum. Roads that are thicker will be matched to the nearest inch, up to 6”.
  
  
• The city will not patch any trenches after October 25th. of each year. The contractor may hire an approved asphalt company to do permanent repairs or they will be required to place a temporary concrete patch, cold mix asphalt patch, or maintain the trench daily until it’s able to be repaired properly in the spring of the year.  The Street Superintendent will determine the minimum temporary repair necessary to create a safe driving surface.
  
  
• The contractor is required to place a minimum of 12” of base course. This is to be measured from the bottom of the existing asphalt. Base course must meet city specifications. 95% minimum compaction is required. The Watertown Engineering Department will do occasional density tests of contractor installed base course.  If the trench is not able to be patched with asphalt immediately, the contractor must fill the trench completely to the top with gravel to create a temporary driving surface. The contractor will be responsible for costs incurred for repairs of future trench settling.  In occasional situations, city forces will install base course at the rates listed below.

Patching Rates

(Includes mobilization of equipment, labor, cutting, compacting, tack oil, & asphalt material)

Additional Rates