Adopt-A-Highway

Adopt-A-Highway Rules and Guidelines

Group acknowledges the hazardous nature of litter pick up and agrees to the following terms and conditions:

• When participants are 15 years of age or younger, the group shall furnish adequate adult supervision.
• Each group shall conduct at least one safety meeting per year, not more than 30 days before commencing the initial work. Participants must attend a safety meeting before participating in any work. The attachment to this agreement, “Safety Tips for Adopt-A-Highway Groups” shall be covered at all safety meetings.
• Groups shall adopt a section of roadway that is normally three miles in length. No litter pickup is permitted in the medians of expressways or freeways.
• The adoption period shall be for a minimum of three years.
• The group shall pick up litter in May, July, and September each year and such other times the group deems appropriate.
• The group shall obtain trash bags from NDDOT during regular business hours.
• The group shall place the filled trash bags just off the outer portion of the shoulder of the road for pick up by NDDOT.
• Unused trash bags shall be returned to NDDOT within one week of the cleanup.
• The group shall be considered an independent contractor and not an employee of NDDOT for any purpose, such as workers compensation, medical insurance, nor any job benefits normally provided to full-time classified employees.
• The group agrees to comply with all applicable laws and rules, including, but not limited to, those relating to nondiscrimination, accessibility, and civil rights.
• The group and each of the participants agrees to release the State of North Dakota, its agencies, officers and employees (State), from any and all claims of any nature, including all costs, expenses and attorneys’’fees, which may in any manner result from or arise out of this agreement.

NDDOT agrees to:

• Erect, as soon as feasible, a permanent sign at each end of the adopted section of the highway or at the beginning of the section if only one side of the highway is being cleaned, with the group’s name or acronym displayed.
• Provide safety vests (all workers within highway right-of-way are required to wear ANSI/ISEA 107-2004 compliant safety vests).
• Provide trash bags.
• Remove the filled trash bags the first feasible workday after the pick up.
• Remove litter from the adopted section when unusual circumstances are discovered; i.e., large, heavy, or hazardous items are on the right of way.

If in the judgment of NDDOT, it is determined that the group has failed to perform its duties, NDDOT may terminate this agreement upon 30 days written notice to the group and remove the signs.

Safety Tips for Adopt-A-Highway Groups

Every crew member should possess the following attributes:

• Ability to perform tasks and be responsive to changing traffic pattens
• A sense of responsibility for safety of public and crew.
• Knives, machetes, axes, etc. should not be carried by crew members. Do not attempt to compact(squeeze) trash bags to gain room for more trash. Injuries from broken or jagged objects often result from this practice. Fill the bag with what goes in easily and then get another bag.
• Park all vehicles well clear of the roadway and at least 10 feet from the shoulders surface.
• Do not walk across interstate highways. Use the bridges.
• Stay off rip-rap and steep slopes.

Staying Safe During Clean-Up

Remember: You are working in a potentially dangerous environment - a public highway. Whenever possible, face oncoming traffic while you work and be prepared to move out of the way of errant vehicles. You should discontinue work in inclement weather, especially in times of reduced visibility, wet/icy roads, during electrical storms, and during other than daylight conditions. Avoid overexertion and drink plenty of water, especially on warm, humid days.

It is important to wear ANSI/ISEA 107-2004 Class II high visibility garments while within the highway right-of-way. Additionally, you should wear light-colored clothing at all times when working on the right-of-way, heavy gloves, substantial leather shoes or boots with ankle support, and sun protection (hat, long sleeves, sunscreen). 

Do not attempt to remove unknown or suspected toxic/hazardous substances. This could include meth byproducts such as containers with hoses duct taped to spouts, empty starter fluid cans, propane tanks with discolored valves, or coffee filters, or bags containing a grayish/white substance. Notify NDDOT or the police of the location of such items immediately. Do not enter the roadway or its shoulder areas, paved or unpaved, to pick up trash. Do not pick up trash in the median of interstate/multi-lane highways. Pick up pop bottles and similar containers only with great care as they may contain human waste. Lastly, do not pick up discarded syringes, hypodermic needles, or broken glass.

In case of emergency, every crew should have an adequate first aid kit, and should be prepared for serious injury. Select an emergency room / hospital and know the route from the work area to the designated treatment center. Every crew should have transportation immediately available and if possible, should have a cellular phone or CB radio with a fully-charged battery.