The Clay County Highway Department is under the direction of the Clay County Board of Commissioners. Clay County Highway Department maintains county roads and ditches. Clay County Highway maintains county line roads and town/city roads on the south and east sides of the county. The north and west side county line roads are maintained by the bordering counties/cities/towns. Clay County Highway does not do any work on roads within incorporated cities and towns (Brazil, Carbon, Center Point, Clay City, Harmony, Knightsville, and Staunton), private roads, private subdivisions, or State and US highways.
REPORT A CONCERN:
You may use the phone number and e-mail address above to report a roadway concern to the Clay County Highway Department. When reporting a concern please provide specifics on your concern including your name, address, phone number, and a detailed description of the concern including the road name and the nearest crossroad.
*If a tree is down and has utility lines in it, the utility company must be notified. Clay County Highway Department is unable to clear a tree with utility lines in it.
To report a concern on Indiana Interstates, U.S. Highways, or State Highways, call 855-INDOT4U (855-463-6848) or complete their online form at https://indot4u.511in.org/report.
COUNTY RIGHT-OF-WAY:
The standard right-of-way for most county roads is 33 feet or 16.5 feet from the center of the roadway. There are certain roads or areas that may have a different right-of-way. To verify the right-of-way in a particular area, you may contact the County Surveyor.
Clay County Highway maintains culverts that go under the roadway. Culverts and pipes that are installed in the ditch line that run parallel with the road are the responsibility of the property owner to maintain including ensuring it is free of debris allowing water to flow and the ditch to drain.
The Clay County Highway Department does not provide or install driveway culverts; however, an application for a driveway culvert must be completed and approved in order for a property owner to install a culvert in the county right-of-way. There is no fee for the permit, but the permit must be approved to ensure proper sizing and adherence to the county’s ordinance. All work must comply with this ordinance and application.
Any utility company completing work in Clay County’s right-of-way MUST have a signed permit. All work must comply with this ordinance and application.
DEAD ANIMALS:
Dead animals are not picked up by Clay County Highway Department. If the dead animal is a road hazard and causing issues with traffic flow, it may be pushed to the side of the roadway.
SNOW REMOVAL:
During inclement weather, highly traveled high priority roads and intersections receive snow removal and road treatment first. As those roads are completed, work will move on to other less traveled roads. Gravel roads are usually lower on the priority list due to less traffic and requiring different treatment.
The Clay County Highway Department follows the Indiana Department of Transportation’s policy on damaged mailboxes during snow removal. In summary, mailboxes damaged by snow and ice thrown from plow blades is considered an unavoidable event and typically will not be replaced. Property owners are responsible for maintaining mailboxes, which should be sturdy and placed to withstand snow pressure. Instances where a mailbox may have been hit with the physical blade of the snow plow will be considered on an individual basis.