To celebrate National Public Works Week in Summit County, Public Works Director Kevin Callahan said he wants to draw attention to the employees whose work goes unnoticed but keeps the county running.
Callahan said Public Works Week, which began on Monday, gives the public an opportunity to think about everything the department does.
“It is an industry-sponsored event and time of recognition,” he said. “I would say the hardest thing we do that people really don’t notice is cleaning out the storm drains. They are underground so people don’t see the work being done, but if there is a quick storm that is the only way we can ensure the storm system can handle it.”
Callahan said his department also spends a lot of time conducting more visible repairs including maintaining the sidewalks, street sweeping and filling in potholes, a job that has been easier this spring due to the mild winter.
“We have to be constantly vigilant in this climate, but this spring we have seen less potholes and cracks in general,” he said. “Because of that we can get ahead of the game a little bit instead of trying to fix potholes all summer.”
Major projects the Public Works Department has planned for the summer include resurfacing Canyons Resort Drive and Promontory Ranch Road.
“Canyons Resort Drive has been in need of repair for a while and we are finally able to focus on it,” Callahan said. “We will be working on the section from S.R. 224 to the cabriolet. Promontory Ranch Road has lots of traffic and heavy trucks traveling on it so we need to do lots of work along the entire stretch.”
Callahan said the mild winter and a slightly larger budget this year has helped his department, crews will catch up on backlogged projects beginning this month and lasting until the fall.