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Joe Montoya
Engineering Manager
Phone: (863) 535-2200
Email: JoeMontoya@polk-county.net
Street Address:
3000 Sheffield Road
Winter Haven, FL 33880
Office Hours of Operation:
Monday through Friday
8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Project Management
The Project Management section performs drainage, sidewalk and intersection improvement designs. Project Managers are also responsible for the management of the division’s Capital Improvement Projects (CIP), Pavement Management Program, Bridge Management Programs and the ADA Transition Plan.
Click here for information related to our ADA Transition Plan
Pavement Management
In 2023, the program received the James B. Sorenson Award for Excellence in Pavement Preservation. This award recognizes government agencies for excellence in pavement preservation programs. Polk County Roads and Drainage is the first agency in the State of Florida to receive this distinction and is among such company as California DOT, Ohio DOT and the City of Nashville.
The Pavement Management program uses analytical software, pavement preservation treatments and staff expertise to develop a yearly pavement work plan. Using a mix of traditional treatments, pavement preservation and pavement recycling treatments, we are able to treat more miles per year, using the right treatment, at the right time, for the reason.
For more information on our Pavement Management program, email AustinPotts@polk-county.net.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all roads receive the same kind of treatment?
The county uses several pavement preservation, rehabilitation and reconstructive treatments to manage the network and continues to look into new technologies and materials.
Some of the treatments currently used are:
Maintenance: Crack sealing, fog seals, patching
Preservation: Asphalt rejuvenation, microsurfacing, chip seals, scrub seals, cape seals, thin asphalt overlays
Minor Rehabilitation: Asphalt overlays, leveling and resurfacing, mill and inlay
Major Rehabilitation: Mill/crack relief and inlay, deep mill and inlay
Reconstruction: Cold-in-place recycling, full depth reclamation
Why was that treatment selected for a particular road?
Our Pavement Management system considers many variables such as a road segment’s current condition, if the prevailing distresses are structural, environmental or functional in nature, the segment’s functional classification and other criteria to select the treatment that will most cost-effectively restore this segment to optimal condition.
What is a PCI and what does it mean?
The Pavement Condition Index (PCI) is used as a general health indicator of a roadway segment, the road in general and the overall network health. It is a numeric scale from 0-100 that is calculated from the pavement distresses identified and measured by inspectors. The higher the PCI, the better the overall health of the pavement.
How can I know if/when a particular road will be treated?
In 2018, the county established a multi-year forecasted work plan so that residents can have a clearer understanding of when roads in their community may be forecasted for treatment. Residents can contact the pavement manager for more information about their roads.
How many miles of roads does the county treat each year?
In the past, the county averaged between 60-80 centerline miles of road per year. With the current level of funding and treatment tools, the county now routinely treats approximately 140-160 centerline miles of road yearly. This represents approximately five to six percent of the entire network each year.
How does the county determine which roads will be treated?
The county uses Pavement Analyst from AgileAssets™ software to select the roads for treatment for the fiscal year. This becomes the annual work plan, and considers among other factors, the road’s current condition, the road’s functional classification, and other important considerations, e.g., if the road is part of an evacuation route, if there are vital facilities such as hospitals, emergency management facilities, schools or others along the route.
How does the county determine a road’s condition?
Approximately every two years county inspectors drive and rate every mile of roadway to determine its condition.
In 2018, the county adopted a standardized inspection and rating system, following national guidelines, but specific for our network’s needs. With this system the PCI is calculated based on the prevalent or most common distresses present on the road at the time of the inspection. The calculation considers the type of distress, how much area of the road is distressed and how severe it is.
Some examples of distresses are fatigue cracking, surface defects, depressions/ponding, shoulder drop-off or build-up. This information is used in the analytical software as part of the decision-making process to develop the county’s work plan.
Inspection and Testing
Certified construction inspectors perform daily inspections at numerous drainage, roadway, sidewalk, pavement and bridge projects throughout the county to ensure these meet the requirements of design and specifications. They also ensure that the necessary temporary traffic control measures are in place to facilitate the safe movement of residents and visitors through construction sites. Safety is our top priority.
Roads and Drainage is one of the few local agencies that operates its own CMEC-certified material testing laboratory. This allows staff to perform quality verification tests of concrete, asphalt and aggregates to ensure the materials used on our projects meet the required standards.
Right-of-Way Permitting
Right-of-way use permits are required for any utility work performed within county rights-of-way, whether it is for aerial or underground installations or attachment onto a bridge structure. Polk County only issues permits to registered utility companies, agri-chemical companies and municipalities. Special permits are allowed for agricultural purposes as needed.
Application Process
All right-of-way use permit applications must be received and approved by the Inspection and Testing section prior to any work being performed on county rights-of-way.
For information on permit requirements, call (863) 535-2321 or ClintMcdonald@polk-county.net. Follow the instructions as shown on the application for submittal.