How to Adopt a Highway

Adopting a highway is a great way to show your commitment to keeping your community clean and promoting environmental stewardship. Adopting a highway involves taking responsibility for a stretch of roadway and committing to keeping it litter-free and well-maintained. Here are the steps you can follow to adopt a highway:

1. Contact the appropriate agency: The first step in adopting a highway is to contact the agency responsible for maintaining the road in your area. This could be the state Department of Transportation, the county highway department, or the city public works department. They will provide you with information about the adoption program in your area.

2. Choose a section of road: Once you have identified the agency responsible for maintaining the roadway, you will need to choose a section of road that you would like to adopt. The agency may have a list of available sections of roadway, or you can request a specific section.

3. Complete the necessary paperwork: You will need to complete the necessary paperwork to formalize your adoption of the roadway. This may include an application, a waiver of liability, and a maintenance agreement.

4. Attend a safety training: Before you can begin cleaning up your adopted roadway, you will need to attend a safety training session. This session will cover topics such as traffic safety, personal safety, and the proper use of equipment.

5. Schedule clean-up events: Once you have completed the necessary paperwork and attended a safety training session, you can begin scheduling clean-up events. You may want to recruit volunteers to help you with the clean-up effort. The agency responsible for the roadway may also provide you with trash bags, safety vests, and other equipment.

6. Maintain your section of roadway: After your clean-up events, it's important to continue to maintain your section of roadway. This may involve regular litter removal, trimming vegetation, and reporting any safety hazards or maintenance issues to the agency responsible for the roadway.

By adopting a highway, you are making a valuable contribution to your community and helping to keep our roadsides clean and safe.