Voting is important, but signs don’t belong in right-of-way

Tis’ the season … remember, political signs should not be placed along the roadside.

Unfortunately, the WCRC does not have the resources to remove every sign that shouldn’t be there. Staff will prioritize removing signs that are causing a safety hazard, are attached to road signs, or are in the way of road maintenance.

Signs of any kind should not be placed in the road right-of-way. These unauthorized signs can become safety hazards by:

• Blocking sight distance at public road intersections
• Distracting drivers from seeing important safety signs like a stop sign
• Becoming projectiles if accidentally run over by a mower or other roadside maintenance equipment

The road right-of-way width varies by road. On most two-lane county roads, the right-of-way is approximately 66 feet wide, but it can be more than 120 feet wide. When in doubt, it is a safe assumption that the road right-of-way extends at least to the far side of sidewalks, ditches or utility poles (if present).

The Washtenaw County Road Commission has the right to remove any authorized sign from the road right-of-way on county public roads. If WCRC removes an unauthorized sign, it will not be returned to the owner and will be destroyed. Click here to read WCRC’s Sign Removal Policy.

If you believe a sign along the road is a safety hazard, click here to submit a service request or download the WCRC Fix It App.

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.