District roads

District Road Administration and Operation

The scope of tasks includes managing the inventory of the over 200 km district road network and performing administrative activities for its own construction projects and third-party initiatives in the road area. This includes:

• Coordination and implementation of traffic regulation measures ordered by the Road Traffic Authority, such as signage and construction site safety

• Approval procedures for private construction projects on adjoining properties as well as for property access roads and advertising facilities

• Authorization of special road uses, such as events or excavations for foreign utilities

• Road law procedures for dedication, classification, and declassification of district roads

• Supervision and cleanup of district-owned road properties

• Processing of purchase agreements, compensation issues, easements, and leases related to district roads

• Financial arrangements and execution of tender procedures for its own construction projects

• Handling claims for damages to district road components or against the district due to damages caused by road conditions (regarding maintenance deficiencies, see keyword maintenance); proof of location, cause, and amount of damage (police report, witnesses, cost estimate, etc.) must be provided.

• Supervision of municipalities as road maintenance authorities of municipal roads concerning violations of road law; submissions should initially be directed to the Municipal Supervisory Authority at OBK.

• Statements on land-use planning procedures and third-party planning affecting district roads. 

For construction projects requiring approval, the district road management is involved by the Building Authority and for traffic regulations and special events by the Road Traffic Authority.

Preferably informal applications can be submitted via email with a description of the matter and as detailed a location specification as possible, including the district road number – if known – or property designation as well as a suitable overview map or cadastral excerpt.

District Road Maintenance

The maintenance of district roads has been transferred by the Oberbergischer Kreis to the State Road Construction Authority NRW and partially to the City of Gummersbach. The independent execution is carried out by the locally responsible road maintenance depots, listed below, and the construction yard of the City of Gummersbach. 

The tasks transferred include, for example: 

• Condition monitoring of roads 

• Minor repairs to ensure traffic safety of road components and ancillary facilities

• Winter service

• Green and tree cutting

• Maintenance of traffic signs

• Cleaning of road surfaces

• Maintenance of road drainage systems

The Oberbergischer Kreis, as the road maintenance authority represented by the Real Estate Management Office, is responsible for monitoring the contractual execution of these maintenance tasks.

The Real Estate Management Office is also responsible for tasks such as

• Installation/renewal of guardrails

• Application/renewal of road markings

• Approval and monitoring of road breaks, e.g., in connection with underground utility lines

Reports of deficiencies and damages suffered can be submitted informally, preferably by email or phone, directly or through the Real Estate Management Office to the respective responsible road maintenance depot. When claiming compensation, proof of location, cause, and amount of damage (police report, witnesses, cost estimate, etc.) must be provided.