The Road Department is responsible for the development, operation, and maintenance of the County road system, consisting of 900 miles of roadway. The Road Department’s services include routine road maintenance (e.g. chip sealing, pothole patching), snow and ice control, roadside vegetation management, traffic signing and striping, bridge maintenance, and emergency response to roadway hazards. Additionally, engineering and administration services are provided for contract management of pavement preservation and capital improvement projects, regulation of work within the public road right of way, and review of countywide planning and land use issues related to transportation. The purchase and maintenance of fleet and heavy equipment needed to perform road maintenance functions are also the responsibility of the Road Department.

The Road Department is also responsible for a number of non-road services that are funded outside of dedicated road funds. These services include the following:

• County Surveyor’s Office - provides for the review and filing of all land surveys within the County and the preservation of public land corners.
• Countywide Noxious Weed Control - operates under the authority of the Deschutes County Weed District.
• Fleet and Heavy Equipment Services - purchasing and maintenance of vehicles for all County departments (except the Sheriff’s Office).
• Services for Other Agencies – provides a variety of maintenance services (e.g. chip sealing and paint striping) to cities, other counties, the Forest Service, and the BLM.