With Extra Protections County Team Maintains Key Resources Services

From optimizing the County's traffic signal timing in response to fewer commuters to taking proactive mosquito management measures, Hillsborough County Engineering & Operations continues make significant contributions to infrastructure and public safety amid an unprecedented pandemic.

Since the Hillsborough Emergency Policy Group declared a local state of emergency on March 12, 2020, the threat of the COVID-19 coronavirus has prompted local governments, businesses, and other organizations to cancel events and suspend non-essential services to help prevent community spread. Like thousands of other essential workers in our community, however, the Engineering & Operations team continues to serve during the pandemic to ensure that County bridges, roads, sidewalks, stormwater systems, sidewalks, and traffic control are functioning properly for necessary travel, essential workers, law enforcement, and first responders.

The department is responsible for providing maintenance, management, and engineering for transportation and stormwater infrastructure throughout the unincorporated county. Comprised of more than 400 skilled staff members, the team is one of the largest departments in the County and offers specialized programs and services, such as:

• Hazard mitigation
• Mosquito management
• Pavement, bridge, and sidewalk programs
• Roadway maintenance (pothole patching, tree trimming, ditch maintenance)
• Stormwater flooding investigations
• Traffic signs, traffic signals, and roadway lighting

While the standard work gear provides the necessary protection per the Centers for Disease Control and Department of Health recommendations, in-field staff are required to take the following additional personal and worksite safety precautions:

• Vehicles are restricted to one staff person per vehicle.
• The investigations team is required to wear masks, gloves, and other personal protection gear when in the field and in public areas.
• All staff working in the field must practice social distancing in addition to the required personal and work site safety practices.
• As much as possible, communication between the department and general public should be handled over the phone or by email. If it is necessary for staff to meet residents in the field, a
• minimum of 6-feet distance must be kept between staff and the resident at all times.

All transportation, stormwater, and infrastructure engineering services continue as normal at this time with increased personal and work site safety practices in compliance with all local, state, and federal regulations. Residents may continue to submit road and sidewalk requests, median maintenance and litter requests, and report flooding online or by phone at (813) 272-5900.

Get Connected. Stay Alert.
For more information on COVID-19, and any other potential emergency in the region, visit HCFLGov.net/StaySafe and sign up for the HCFL Alert system. Additionally, you can follow Hillsborough County on social media at Facebook, Twitter, and Nextdoor for updates. For general County information, call (813) 272-5900, the County's main information line.