Public Works Street Operations address pothole repair requests, pavement markings, as well as signs and removal of dead animals in the public right-of-way. Please contact us at 360-887-8251 if you have any questions or click here to report a problem.
Submit an Online Service Request
Use AccessRidgefield to submit a question or comment, identify an issue, or report a concern. Staff will receive your form during regular business hours and respond accordingly.
Severe Weather
Public Works Operations prepares for weather events by diligently following weather reports and monitoring weather stations. Often City crews get started in the early hours to mitigate very snowy or icy conditions and eliminate commuting hazards.
The City of Ridgefield has many hills and streets that are typically the first to become slippery or impacted by snow. Public Works Operations prioritizes clearing these roads along with main arterials, collectors, and bus routes by using anti-icer, sand, and/or plowing.
In a snow or ice event, roads will be cleared or treated in the following order: arterials, collectors, and bus routes. After these streets are plowed and sanded, the crew will attempt to clear neighborhood streets if time and conditions permit. Click here to view the full size map.
Anti-Icer as a Tool
Anti-icer is preferred for use in certain circumstances. For example, sand causes other issues to drivers and bicyclists. In addition, when streets are sanded, the sand has to be removed after the weather event. Instead, the City pretreats the streets with magnesium chloride, an anti-icer, which lowers the freezing temperature of water. Magnesium chloride is preferred over salt or other anti-icers because it is less toxic to plant life and less corrosive to concrete and steel. The liquid magnesium chloride is sprayed onto dry pavement prior to freezing temperatures in the winter months to prevent snow and ice from adhering and bonding to the roadway. In order for the treatment to work properly, the road surface must be dry for application.
Streetlights
Have you seen a street light that is out, on during the day, damaged or flickering on and off? Please contact Public Works at 360-887-8251, option 1, option 2. When reporting, please have the following information ready:
- Pole number
- Street address, if available
- Nearest cross street
- Contact name and phone number
Turnaround is generally a week for standard repairs. Lead times on damaged lights may be longer depending on replacement parts needed.
Street Trees
Street trees/row trees are an important amenity to the City. They provide shade, habitat, and beauty. However, street trees in the right-of-way may impact safe movement and parking, as well as room for pedestrians and cyclists. Therefore, to promote safety and protect the traveling public, the city requires that street trees be trimmed in order to provide a minimum clearance of nine feet above the sidewalk/walkway for pedestrian safety and thirteen and a half feet on the street side to allow for larger vehicles and to ensure visibility.
Street trees in the right-of-way adjacent to private property are the responsibility of the property owner to maintain. Please do your part to maintain the vegetation adjacent to your property.
- If your tree needs to be trimmed and you do not have the time or ability to do it yourself, please contact a local arborist who can provide this service for you.
- Provide your tree with 10-15 gallons of water per week for the first three years, especially when it gets hot and dry outside. This is the best way to ensure your tree’s survival.
- Weeds and grass are strong competitors for water, so they should be kept clear of the base of your tree’s trunk. It is important, however, to be careful when mowing or weed-eating around your tree. The living tissue of a tree is just below the surface; cuts and scrapes inflicted during the first year of a tree’s life can cause permanent damage to your tree.
- Provide treatment to prevent insects and diseases.
Street Tree Removal
The City of Ridgefield requires a tree removal permit for trees on public property. Contact the Public Works Operations Division at 360-887-8251 for more information or visit the Permit Center for the Permit Application and Approved Tree List.
Report Hazardous Street Trees
Hazardous trees can be a threat to life and property. If you see a tree that is in the public right-of-way and/or is potentially hazardous, e.g. broken branches, leaning trunk, etc., please contact the Public Works Operations Division at 360-887-8251 for an evaluation.
For more information about tree care and city requirements, refer to Ridgefield Municipal Code Title 12.12.020
Transportation Improvement Program
Click on the links below to view the relevant six year transportation improvement program.
