Keep those ditches clean

The St. Joseph County Road Commission is asking residents to keep roadside ditches clean.

The Road Commission says there are instances where residents are filling roadside ditches with leaves and yard waste. In some cases, rocks, brush and stumps have been dumped into roadside ditches.

The road right-of-way is generally 66 feet – 33 feet on each side of the “centerline” of the road. This right-of-way is to maintain ditches to allow for proper drainage from the roadbed. When debris is dumped into the ditch line it obstructs the water flow, causing water to pool on the road surface, which can be dangerous to the travelling public and contributes greatly to the deterioration of the road surface.

The Road Commission is requesting that citizens refrain from the practice of dumping anything within the road right-of-way. Citizens who continue this practice will be liable for the cost of the Road Commission cleaning the debris from the roadside ditches.

If anyone wishes to report obstacles that have been dumped into the road right-of-way, they may do so by calling (269) 467-6393 or emailing adm@sjcrc.com.

The Road Commission says, “Your cooperation will help keep our roadsides free of obstacles to ensure safer travel and more efficient maintenance of the roads in St. Joseph County.”