A truck passes a mower cutting grass along a county road in western Washington County. Each year the county mows hundreds of miles of grass that line the rural highways across the county. Typically, the areas get two cuttings during the summer. (Photo by Art Smith)
Mowing crews are out around Washington County mowing along many local roads.
Washington County Highway Superintendent Frank Bland said they have four boom mowers, where the mower hangs off over the side, out working with an operator manning each one.
“Washington County has 341 road miles,” Bland said. “Each mower averages about 85 miles a piece.”
Mowing is done at the beginning of the summer season and in the fall.
In the summer, mowers do two passes on both sides of the road.
“They have to go out and back two times,” Bland said. “That is 85 miles times four.”
In the fall, they do it three times, he said.
In summer time, it takes three months to mow and in the fall, it takes four months.
Crews are cutting grass, small brush and vegetation, Bland said.
“The cutting is done for public safety,” he said. “With deer crossing the roads, people are able to see the deer a lot quicker.
“It also opens up the road so drivers can see the road edges better.”
Bland said they are cycling into a newer type of mower. Instead of a tractor and mower combination, the new Mower Maxes are specifically engineered for roadside mowing. He said maintenance is holding up a lot better on those and there is less down time when they are not out.
Bland wants the driving public to be aware the mowers are out there.
“Slow down and wait where you can get to where you have good sight distance around them so you can pass,” he said. “If they see the mower signs out, just watch out for the mowers.
“You can tell where they have been due to the grass clippings.”
Bland said he regularly gets phone calls from people around the county wondering when the mowers will be out.
“We just ask everyone to be patient,” he said. “Each mower is covering 85 miles times four and they go about 5 mph.
“It takes them some time to get to the farther ends of the county.”
