Highway Maintenance Degree

What You Will Learn

Upon completion of the program you will be able to: 

• Demonstrate knowledge of highway maintenance and operations activities performed on national, state, county, municipal and rural roadways. 
• Implement and oversee programs and processes to ensure the safety of workers and the public.
• Interpret and implement traffic control plans in highway maintenance work zones and emergency work zones while providing traffic control for other entities, such as the Colorado State Patrol.
• Identify proper preventative measures and preservation treatments to maintain asphalt, concrete, and gravel roads. 
• Implement asset management practices to make the most effective use of financial, equipment, material, and staffing resources to achieve highway maintenance project goals and objectives.
• Manage highway maintenance projects by effectively planning, implementing, controlling, evaluating, and leading activities. 
• Implement human relations strategies, such as motivating employees, handling customer complaints, and effectively resolving workplace conflicts. 
• Communicate effectively orally and in writing with managers, employees, contractors, other government agencies, the public and other stakeholders. 
• Make decisions and manage organizational resources based on principles of corporate and social responsibility. 
• Develop knowledge and skills in one or more highway maintenance specialty areas: highway engineering technician; highway materials and structures; highway equipment operations and management; environmental protection; and incident management, emergency management, and weather events. 

"I was in my early 20s with a baby on the way when I saw that big orange snow plow. I thought about how it would be a fun job to have. I looked into it more and decided to apply for a position at CDOT. My CDOT career began as a Highway Maintenance Specialist out of the Morrison Patrol. In 2006, I joined the Bridge Crew and learned everything there was to know about Colorado’s bridges and how to keep them safe. I served as a Bridge Crew member for the next 10 years, being promoted to Highway Maintenance Supervisor and then to Maintenance Foreman in 2015. In 2017, I transferred to the northeast Colorado region as a new Maintenance Foreman for their Bridge Crew and worked for another year until I was promoted to Deputy Superintendent for the Specialty Teams.

So here I am with 21 years of service to CDOT as a Deputy Superintendent with numerous acknowledgements, accomplishments, and awards for individual, teams, and projects that I have been a part of. With CDOT’s vast assortment of training, classes, courses, etc. I was able to utilize them to enhance and maximize my knowledge and apply what I learned to my career. For instance, I am one of two in CDOT who is a Licensed Welding Inspector. When I meet people at job fairs or outside of work, and they ask me why I work for CDOT, I tell them a little bit of my story, and I let them know CDOT is truly family because everyone you meet will add to your career in some way." - Steve Pineiro, Northeast Colorado Deputy Superintendent

Years with CDOT: 21