Streets

Pavement Management Program Overview

The City of Ozark established a computerized Pavement Management System in 2002 to provide a management program for scheduling appropriate maintenance or reconstruction of city streets in the proper time frame to extend their overall expected life cycle in the most efficient and economical manner. Street pavement has the shortest life cycle of all public infrastructure systems. This is primarily due to extreme physical abuse from frequent and heavy traffic and exposure to harsh environmental elements.  See videos below explaining Pavement Management Systems and pavement life cycles.

Pavement Management Systems

Pavement Life Cycles

Under the pavement management program, the physical condition of all city street surfaces are evaluated and rated by the type, severity and quantity of existing deficiencies. They are then rated with a numerical value.  This information is utilized in determining street priorities as well as what maintenance options will provide the most economical long-term benefit. The City may choose from different types of street maintenance procedures when planning street repairs. Please click on this link for the details of pavement maintenance procedures.  The traffic volume for each street is also taken into consideration. Another factor taken into consideration for scheduling maintenance is if utility repair/replacement is required prior to reconstructing a street. 

The question often asked is "Why spend money on a good road when the one I drive on the most is falling apart?" An appropriate answer to this question is because it costs less to keep good roads good than to allow them to deteriorate, which leads to reconstruction or rehabilitation. There is just not enough funding available to continue the "worst first" way of doing things. Following the "worst first" approach, the backlog of roads that need major rehabilitation and reconstruction continues to grow. The only way to get out from under the avalanche of deteriorating pavements is to stop the rate of deterioration through the application of less costly preventive maintenance treatments. That is, by implementing a preservation program. Research has shown that for every dollar spent on preservation, we save six to ten dollars that would have to be spent on rehabilitation or reconstruction down the road.  In summary, a pavement preservation program is a proactive approach to maintaining streets using low cost preventive maintenance treatments. Moving from a worst first strategy to one of preservation will ensure that we are getting the most from the limited resurfacing dollars available.  Click on link below for a video explaining the benefits of preventive maintenance.

Preventive Maintenance 

Roadway Maintenance Responsibilities

Various agencies have maintenance responsibilities for streets within the city limits of Ozark. MoDOT maintains the numbered and lettered highways including Business 65. The City of Ozark and Ozark Special Road District both have assigned maintenance responsibilities within the transportation service area of Ozark. This assignment is indicated on the intergovernmental cooperative agreement.


Driveways/Street Cuts

Public Works permit with a deposit is required when constructing a new driveway apron or accomplishing utility work within the public right-of-way. A driveway plan must be approved by the Public Works Department before the permit is issued.  Public Works approval and permit will also be required to cut into a city street for utility connections or repairs.

 

Traffic Signs

For all traffic signs, a Request For Traffic Sign Installation shall be submitted. The request will be reviewed by the Police Department, the Public Works Department and the Engineering Department. The requester will be notified of the results of this review process. Stop Signs shall not be used for speed control. The City of Ozark does not install "Children at Play" signs. All sign installations shall comply with standard engineering practices and the latest edition of the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.


Traffic Counts

The City of Ozark conducts traffic counts on roadway within the city limits. These traffic counts may be viewed at the counter within the Planning & Development department. If the desired count is not available a new count may be requested on the Request for a Traffic Count Form.


Street Lighting Overview

Streetlights in the City of Ozark are typically only approved for intersections and at the ends of cul-de-sacs. Street lighting within the public right-of-way is defined as a traffic-safety function as opposed to a security function. Empire District Electric maintains and installs street lights in the City of Ozark. Malfunctioning street lights can be reported to the Engineering Department at 417-581-2407, or email ccarter@ozarkmissouri.org  . They can also be reported on this website with the following form; Street Light Outage Report. Each location reported will be evaluated for potential repair/replacement.