What's Adopt A Highway?
The McHenry County Adopt A Highway Program is a volunteer effort to eliminate litter along sections of County Roads. The Adopt A Highway Program started in McHenry County in 1995. Our goal is to have all roads adopted. Volunteer groups adopt a one-half mile to two mile section of highway for a two year period. A minimum of four trash collections are required per year.
Why Adopt A Highway?
- Your organization can gain recognition from thousands of potential customers or new members driving by your sign every day on McHenry County’s busiest highways 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Visitors and residents will see your organization’s name supporting an important environmental issue.
- Provides a clean environment, gives civic pride to the community, serves as a reminder not to litter and saves tax-payers money.
- Receive badges or credit for volunteering from your scouting, school, church or other civic group!
Where Can I Adopt A Highway?
Adopt A Highway Interactive Map
The McHenry County Adopt A Highway Viewer is an interactive map that provides residents the ability to view information on the volunteer litter pick-up program covering the counties approximately 213 miles of highway. For more information please contact the McHenry County Division of Transportation Adopt A Highway Coordinator at adoptahighway@McHenryCountyIL.gov
Who Can Adopt A Highway?
Basically anyone! Big or small it doesn't matter the group size, as long as you and your group members have the drive to clean up roadside litter. Here are some examples of the types of groups within our adopt a highway program:
- Civic groups
- Clubs
- Colleagues
- Friends and families
- Neighbors
- Organizations
- Sororities and fraternities
- Religious groups
How Much Does it Cost?
Nothing. Nada. Zilch. $0.00
How Do I apply?
Please submit all Adopt A Highway applications, correspondence, and requests to AdoptAHighway@mchenrycountyil.gov. Applications cannot be completed within the online browser and require Adobe® Reader. Please follow the instructions below:
- Save the form (PDF File) on your hard drive, and work on the saved document. If you need to fill out more than one form, make copies and assign a different file name to each form.
- If you do not have Adobe® Reader on your computer, you can download it at: https://get.adobe.com/reader/
- Save the completed form and email it to AdoptAHighway@mchenrycountyil.gov
Adopt A Highway Documents and Media
Any sign you see like above with "YOUR GROUP NAME HERE" is available for adoption.
For more information about the Adopt A Highway Program or questions feel free to contact:
adoptahighway@mchenrycountyil.gov
Phone number: (815) 334-4970
Adopt A Highway Training Video
What's the Living Snow Fence Program?
To reduce the cost of installing traditional snow fences along highways, the McHenry County Division of Transportation initiated the Living Snow Fence Program. This program annually purchases corn or an agreed upon natural barriers (such as sweet sorghum, hay bales, or silage bags, etc.), from local farmers, using them as natural barriers in areas prone to blowing and drifting snow. This innovative solution enhances road safety while saving on installation and maintenance costs.
Why Participate in the Living Snow Fence Program?
- Reduce Snow Drifting: McHenry County highway has a lot of open-air rural areas that are prone to massive snow drifts.
- Support Local Farmers: Participants in the program can earn up to $2,000 per acre!
- Lower Maintenance Costs: Using corn rows and/or natural barrier reduces the need for frequent snow removal along highways.
Who Can Participate?
Farmers who own land adjacent to county highway with a history of snow drifting are eligible to participate. By selling standing corn rows and/or natural barrier to MCDOT, farmers contribute to safer winter roads in McHenry County.
How Do I Participate?
1. Explore Eligibility:
Determine if your land is located next to McHenry County highway. Check out our county highway map to find out which roads fall under McHenry County highway.
2. Apply:
Fill out and submit the Living Snow Fence Program application form. After reviewing your application, MCDOT will contact you for further steps.
3. Prepare Your Land:
Once accepted into the program, follow MCDOT guidelines to maintain standing corn rows as effective snow barriers.
4. Compensation:
MCDOT will provide compensation based on the size of the corn rows utilized as living snow fences.
What is the Compensation breakdown?
The payments to Farmers will be based on a per acre basis (length and width of the living snow fence). Payments to Farmers are currently set at $2,000 per acre of corn rows or agreed upon natural barrier (sweet sorghum, hay bales, silage bags, etc.).
Participants must keep the living snow fence upright from December 1 to March 1. Following March 1, the farmer is allowed to harvest any of the remaining corn and/or vegetative barrier.
Program Documents and Forms
- Living Snow Fence Brochure: Detailed information about the program.
- Living Snow Fence Form: Apply to participate in the program.
Contact Information
For more information about the Living Snow Fence Program or if you have any questions, please contact:
Bob Hensel, Maintenance Supervisor
Email: bmhensel@mchenrycountyil.gov
Phone: (815)-334-4661
Developer Permit Projects Construction Cut-Off Date for 2024
If you have a developer permit project involving access and road work on a County Highway that has received written permit approval from the McHenry County Division of Transportation (MCDOT) and the work will start or is required to be built in 2024, then the access and road work on the County Highway shall start no later than October 13, 2024 or sooner if an earlier date for completion was required by the MCDOT, for the 2024 calendar year paving/construction season. If you cannot meet this deadline then the start of the access and road construction must wait until work can begin in 2025 (typically beginning in April) unless otherwise instructed or approved by the MCDOT. This deadline is necessary to allow time for the road improvements to be completed in 2024 taking into account possible delays caused by Fall inclement weather and asphalt plant closings typically on or near November 15. The no later than date could be sooner, if required by the County Engineer, depending on the scope of the project.
View Ordinance, Manual, Fees, Applications and Other Information
Permit Applications
Please submit all permit applications, correspondence, and requests to ROWPermit@mchenrycountyil.gov. Applications cannot be completed within the online browser and require Adobe® Reader. Please follow the instructions below:
- Save the form (PDF File) on your hard drive, and work on the saved document. If you need to fill out more than one form, make copies and assign a different file name to each form.
- If you do not have Adobe® Reader on your computer, you can download it at: https://get.adobe.com/reader/
- Save the completed form and email it to ROWPermit@mchenrycountyil.gov
McHenry County DOT Credit Payments
McHenry County Division of Transportation now accepts credit card payments. Please note a 3.25% service fee applies with the fee minimum being $1.00
Click on the link here, and it will redirect you to our credit payment page.
Please include a project identifier/description such as a WORK ORDER NUMBER or COUNTY HIGHWAY NAME in the notes section of the credit payment page.
OXCART PERMIT SYSTEMS
Oxcart Permit Systems is accepting McHenry County Division of Transportation Overweight & Oversize Truck Permits. Applicants must use Oxcart Permit Systems
Registration is easy and can be completed on the Oxcart website
Oxcart Browser Help Guide
For County Highways in McHenry County
Log onto OXCART to obtain permits on County Highways. If you need further assistance please email Support.
Oversize/Overweight Truck Route Information
McHenry County Division of Transportation does not issue permits for other road jurisdictions (State, Township or local Municipal roads).
For the McHenry County Sheriff
For State Highways in McHenry County
Contact the local Illinois Department Of Transportation (IDOT) office to obtain permits for State Highways along your route.
For Township Roads in McHenry County
Contact each Township Highway office along your route to obtain permits for Township Roads.
For Local Municipal Streets in McHenry County
Contact each Municipal office along your route to obtain permits for Municipal Streets.
Bridge Weight Limits & Bridge Map Information
Legal Load Information for County Highways and Township Roads Only
For bridge weight limit information on State Highways and local Municipal Streets, contact each of those offices.
