The Topsfield Highway Department is located at the Public Works Facility, 279 Boston Street, also known as Route One. The Facility is a state of the art, pre-engineered building, built in 2000 and houses the staff of both the Water Department and Highway Department. The site also contains a sand and salt storage facility, recycling center, composting area, and a centralized fueling depot for all of the Town’s vehicles.

The Highway Department is responsible for the overall maintenance and upkeep of the Town’s road and bridge infrastructure. Topsfield has approximately 60 miles of roadways, 25 miles of sidewalks, 1500 catch basins and manholes, 6 bridges, and countless miles of drainage pipe. The Department handles many tasks throughout the year including street sweeping, roadside mowing, brush clearing and removal, tree trimming and removal, catch basin cleaning, snow and ice control, street paving, road reconstruction, sidewalk paving, vehicle maintenance, drop off recycling, and brush and leaf composting. We currently have five employees, all trained at various levels of heavy equipment operation, truck driving, and fleet maintenance.

The Highway Department is governed by an elected Board of Road Commissioners who serve staggered 3 year terms and is administered by an appointed Highway Superintendent and one part time Administrative Assistant. The Commissioners set policy within the department, review and prepare the budget for Town Meeting, consider capital purchases and expenses, and promote the department’s annual road improvement program. The Commissioners meet regularly on the third Friday of the month to conduct department business.