Right-of-way: The unseen work beyond the pavement

When most people think about road work, they picture pothole patching, paving or chip sealing. But county road agencies also maintain billions of square feet of right-of-way — the space alongside the road that helps keep drivers safe and roads properly draining.

The right-of-way (ROW) is the entire width of a county road corridor, typically 66 feet wide, including the roadbed, shoulders, ditches and adjacent land. It provides space for stormwater drainage and a recovery area for vehicles that leave the roadway.

Maintaining the ROW is a major responsibility for county road agencies. Crews mow grass, clear ditches, remove debris and vegetation, repair guardrails and signs, and grade roadsides to help keep roads safe and functional.

County road agencies also oversee utilities located within the ROW, including electric lines, broadband and fiber infrastructure, gas lines, and water and sewer pipes.

No matter who owns the land along a county road, the county road agency maintains permanent authority over the right-of-way. In Michigan alone, county road agencies oversee at least 31 billion square feet of ROW.