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Franklin County Engineer

As a local public works agency headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, the Franklin County Engineer's Office is responsible for the maintenance and construction of 271 miles of county roadway and 351 county bridges, as well as upkeep of all county ditches, drains, retention basins, and other storm water facilities within the right-of-way of county roads in unincorporated areas. To meet the continuing development and infrastructure needs of Franklin County, the Engineer's Office utilizes the latest technologies for determining and maintaining roadway centerlines and boundaries; retracing and setting new monuments for original public land surveys; preparing geographic information system mapping for real estate tax assessments; and establishing precise countywide horizontal and vertical control to maintain uniformity in construction, surveying, and mapping.
Franklin County Engineer
Franklin County Engineer
March 17-23, 2024 has been designated as Severe Weather Awareness Week. Be prepared for spring and summer weather hazards including thunder, lightning, tornadoes, and floods by assessing emergency and sheltering plans. Visit ema.ohio.gov for more information.
Franklin County Engineer
Franklin County Engineer
National Surveyors Week highlights the surveying profession and the vital services they provide the public. The FCEO Survey & Records Departments not only performs surveys for Franklin County projects, but they also provide data for professional surveyors. We appreciate their support to our local surveying community. #NSW #NationalSurveyorsWeek
Franklin County Engineer
Franklin County Engineer
We are so excited to participate in the return of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Central Ohio STEM Expo! Kids had "loads" of fun learning how to make strong and stable bridges during the Penny Bridge Activity. We look forward to participating again next year!
Franklin County Engineer
Franklin County Engineer
Today #TeamFCEO attended the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) 2024 State of the Region event. This year’s theme, Connecting Communities: Building the Future of Housing and Transportation, focuses on community accomplishments and highlights upcoming plans for leading our region into the future. We are honored to be a MORPC partner!
Franklin County Engineer
Franklin County Engineer
In honor of the 2024 theme for Women’s History month, “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion”, we would like to recognize Raye Montague who was the first female program manager of ships in the United States Navy.
Franklin County Engineer
Franklin County Engineer
The National Association of Counties held NACo’s Equity + Governance Task Force Convening where #TeamFCEO and officials from the Franklin County Board of Commissioners' Office attended a highly interactive meeting regarding equitable governance. Thank you, NACo, for hosting an informative and educational event.
Franklin County Engineer's Office
970 DUBLIN ROAD
COLUMBUS, OHIO 43215
(614) 525-3030
fracoeng@franklincountyengineer.org
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Snow Fighters

Where’s My Plow

Deployment

During inclement weather, more than 100 Franklin County Engineer Snowfighters work around the clock to maintain safe travel on 850 lane miles of roads and streets and provide road salt and anti-icing chemicals to 32 communities and public agencies.

Deployed in two twelve-hour shifts from three regional facilities, the Snow fighters operate 33 dump trucks equipped with plows and computerized salt spreaders that maximize efficiency. They clear 26 designated routes, as well as those requested by other agencies.

Route checkers, traveling in vehicles equipped with pavement temperature sensors, are in constant contact with command post dispatchers who communicate with the county sheriff’s office, police, and public service departments to ensure fast and efficient snow and ice removal. The dispatchers also monitor the latest weather information from the DTN Weather Sentry.

Snow fighter mechanics provide essential vehicle repair and preventive maintenance services. Snowfighter heavy equipment operators use front-end loaders, stationed at our regional facilities, to load salt trucks and remove snowdrifts from roadways.

Rigorous Training

Snow Fighters participate in an extensive training program that involves both classroom and on-the-road instruction. Every year refresher classes are held to discuss snow fighting strategies, equipment operation and maintenance, and safe driving practices.

Our plow drivers’ knowledge and maneuverability skills are then put to the test at our annual Snow Fighter Roadeo. Competitors are judged for their abilities to maneuver through a difficult obstacle course and in backing their vehicles. It is our goal to prepare the drivers for every type of on-the-road situation and hazard.

Snow Fighters are also judged for their skills in operating a front-end loader, which is used for loading plow trucks with salt and removing snow from roadways and parking lots.

The 34th Snow Fighter ROADEO was held on October 3, 2019 at the Franklin County Engineer 970 Dublin Road location. More than 70 drivers from the engineer’s office and local townships participated

Rigorous Training

Vehicle Tracking

The Franklin County Engineer’s Office operates an automated vehicle locating system (AVL) for snow and ice control equipment. During a storm event, AVL provides managers with unit and driver identification, vehicle location and speed, rate of application for salt and de-icing liquid, and road and air temperatures. The tracking system enables the county to better coordinate their snow and ice control efforts throughout Franklin County. You can find the current location of your plow at our website.

De-Icing Materials

Deicers include salt, the principal road clearing material; liquid calcium chloride, used as a pre-wetting agent and for additional melting power at lower temperatures; and salt brine, sprayed on roadways to delay freezing and enhance salt effectiveness.

Salt is applied at an approximate rate of 400 pounds per mile along a two-lane roadway. During the 2018/19 winter season, we used approximately 12,390 tons of salt that included an 80/20 mix of salt brine and GeoMelt.

The 2020 winter salt price is $80.41 per ton. The total cost for snow and ice control during the 2018/19 winter season was $2,017,521.10 .

Computerized salt spreaders are used to guarantee prescribed application amounts that minimize costs and environmental effects. New de-icing products, that are safer and more effective, are always under consideration as suggested by the Ohio Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration.

De-Icing Materials

Snowdrift Prevention

To control drifting snow, nearly 30,000 feet of snow fence will be erected along roadways that traditionally experience high winds. In agricultural areas, the engineer’s office conducts an annual program to encourage farmers to leave their partial cornstalks. When left uncut one to two feet above the ground, they are effective in helping to prevent snowdrifts.

During past winters, cornstalk protected roads had considerably fewer snow drift hazards than those that were unprotected. This season, cornstalks will protect nearly 75,000 feet of roadway.

Snow