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Public Works
The Public Works Department is responsible for the maintenance and repair of the City's street, drainage, and transportation systems by providing planning, design, and maintenance.
Read more about the Master Drainage Plan on the Beaumont Portal page.
The Capital Program Division directs the development and construction of the City's Capital Program for general improvement projects. Proposed water and sewer projects, administered by the Beaumont Water Department are also included in the City's Capital Program.
Pavement Condition Study
In March 2019, the Beaumont City Council awarded a contract to IMS Infrastructure Management Services, LLC (IMS) of Tempe, Arizona to assess the condition of our street infrastructure. In April 2019, IMS started its work. IMS utilized a specialized van to travel each lane of the roadway to acquire data for the study. Included in the acquired data were ways to measure the surface distress and roughness of the road. The project was substantially completed in February of 2021. The graph and spreadsheet below are a way to interpret the Pavement Condition Index (PCI) score for each segment of road maintained in the City.
Email Pavement Condition Study Updates any errors or missing segments of streets with street names and the limits that are missing.
Understand the Score
The following illustration compares Pavement Condition Index (PCI) to commonly used descriptive terms. The divisions between the terms are not fixed but are meant to reflect common perceptions of the condition.
The general idea of what these condition levels mean with respect to remaining life and typical rehabilitation action is included in the following table:
The Streets and Drainage Division maintains the City's streets and right-of-way. This includes tree trimming and removal; mowing; and herbicide treatment. This responsibility covers 642 miles of streets (involving 407 miles of asphalt streets and 235 miles of concrete streets) and 38 miles of unimproved right-of-ways; a drainage ditch system more than 840 miles in length; an underground drainage system of more than 400 miles; and approximately 20,000 catch basins. The division also oversees a street sweeping program that addresses all curb and gutter streets throughout the City.
Read the Street Cut and Barricading Permit (PDF) for more information.
The Traffic Management Division focuses on:
- Pavement marking
- Signal maintenance and construction
- Fabrication, installation, and repair of traffic signs
- Maintenance of freeway lighting throughout the City
Personalized street signs are available to be purchased by the Traffic Management division. Please fill out the Street Sign Order Form (PDF) and follow the included instructions.
Engineering is responsible for the acquisition of land and the design and construction of capital improvement projects on streets, bridges, and drainage systems. The division reviews, inspects, and approves all subdivision and commercial/industrial site development plans to ensure compliance with the City's specifications and codes. Engineering updates and maintains the various maps and files of all city-owned properties and right-of-way and manages inter-local agreements for engineering and construction projects. This division provides survey work for the City.
The City of Beaumont, in partnership with Lamar University, is participating in a DHS S&T (Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology) program to gather data on water levels during rain events. The City has installed a number of flood sensors to measure water levels at outfalls. Outfalls are where the storm drainage systems within residential and commercial areas flow into a larger drainage system. The larger drainage system is typically a DD6 ditch or the Neches River. By measuring water levels, the City can better understand how the storm drainage systems are impacted when the outfall structures become submerged.
All of the sensors can be viewed SE Texas R.A.I.N. website.
- The site shows all of the DHS sensors and other sensors that have been placed by governmental agencies. The sensors installed by the City have BMXX as the sensor identifier. (Example: BM24)
- When first accessing the site, the user will need to scroll down and click the large purple button that says "River Level Map Full Screen".
- To view only the DHS sensors, the user will need to click on the icon in the upper right-hand corner that says "Views" and then click on the drop-down arrow and select "DHS S&T Sites". Once that is done, the user will then need to click on the middle icon for "Sensor Type" then click on the drop-down arrow and select "Stage".
- From there, the user will be able to look at all of the sensors that have been installed and the depth of water at each sensor.
- There are Legends that state what the different colors mean when looking at the sensors on the map and the lines on the graphs.
For a demonstration, please view the video - How to Use the SE Texas R.A.I.N. Website (MP4). Please note, the map is a live map and will show additional sensors when they are installed.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Who is responsible for maintaining sidewalk and driveways?
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Per Ordinance - Section 14.03.052 Maintenance of sidewalks, driveways, and alleys the maintenance of any driveway, sidewalk, or alley shall be the responsibility of the owner or lessee of the property served by the driveway, sidewalk, or alley. Before constructing, reconstructing, repairing, or altering any driveway or sidewalk, a permit shall be approved by the Engineering Department and obtained from the Building Codes Division. Apply for a permit online.
- When is a grading permit required?
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An application for a grading permit shall be submitted prior to beginning construction activities of any type, including clearing, leveling activities, and resurfacing or repairing a parking lot for any construction site for which grading activities at the site will disturb in total four-hundred-fifty (450) or more square feet of land surface area. View General Grading Permit Information (PDF) to learn more.
- Do I need a permit to cut down a tree?
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If more than 450 or more square feet of land surface area will be disturbed with the tree removal, then a Grading Permit is required. Simply cutting down a tree does not require a permit.
- Is slit fence required for all construction sites?
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Temporary Erosion Control Measures are required for all construction sites during construction. A silt fence is the most common form of temporary erosion control. Please see the City of Beaumont Grading Permit Information or the City of Beaumont Watershed Protection Ordinance for more details on Temporary Erosion Control Measures.
- What are the requirements for storm sewer materials?
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All storm sewer pipes within the city's right-of-way or proposed right-of-way must be either reinforced concrete pipe (RCP) or high-performance polypropylene pipe (HP Storm).
- What size culvert do I need for a driveway that will be installed?
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After ensuring that your permit is approved, that you have paid the associated fee, and that it has been issued, you will need to schedule a "Culvert Grade Set" inspection. The City of Beaumont survey crew will establish the required pipe size as well as give information for the cut/fill required to place the culvert on the correct grade in the ditch. After installation of the culvert, you will need to schedule a "Culvert Install" Inspection.
- Who handles a complaint about high grass on a property or excessive amount of trash?
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Code Enforcement - you can reach them at 409-880-3146 or by calling 311.
- How do I schedule an inspection for my driveway permit or grading permit?
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You can call 311 or schedule the inspection directly through the City of Beaumont Cityworks online permit portal - in both instances you will need your permit number.
- At what point does a contractor need to schedule a grading inspection?
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- A "Notice of Intent - Initial Grading" Inspection must be scheduled when construction operations commence.
- A "Storm Sewer Tie-in" inspection must be scheduled prior to backfilling any underground storm sewer tie-ins within the city's right-of-way.
- A "Notice of Termination of Grading - Final Grading" Inspection must be scheduled once all grading activities are completed and the permanent erosion control measures are in place (sodding, seeding, etc.)
- At what point does a contractor need to schedule a driveway inspection?
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- A "Culvert Grade Set" inspection must be scheduled prior to the purchase or installation of a culvert.
- A "Culvert Install" inspection must be scheduled following the installation and backfill of the driveway culvert.
- A "Driveway Pre-Pour" inspection must be scheduled after the driveway formwork and reinforcement is in place, before any concrete has been poured.
- A "Driveway Post-Pour" inspection must be scheduled after the driveway has been poured, formwork has been removed, and any washout containers and clean up has been completed.
- What permit is required for a lane closure, barricades in the street, or a street cut?
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A Street Cut and Barricading permit shall be required of any person, except the City, who undertakes to perform work or other activity upon, in, under, or above any public right-of-way which requires that the right-of-way be partially or completely closed, except for a few cases that are exempt. To see the list of exemptions please visit the City of Beaumont Ordinance 14.03.182. This permit can be obtained through the Cityworks Online Permit Portal under the Engineering tab.
- My ditch needs to be cleaned out or 'mopped out'?
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Please contact Streets and Drainage at 409-838-5046 or call 311 and we will send a crew out.
- My sewer is backing up. What should I do?
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Please contact Water Utilities at 409-880-0062 or report it to 311.
- Can you install a stop sign to slow down traffic?
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Stop signs will not be installed for the sole purpose of slowing down speeders. The purpose of a stop sign is to assign right-of-way and the traffic conditions must meet specific criteria per the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). Installing unwarranted, or unnecessary, stop signs has proven to have adverse effects on the surrounding area.
- Can a "Slow - Children at Play" sign be installed?
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Federal standards discourage the use of these types of signs due to a widespread false belief that these signs provide added protection. Studies have shown there is no long-term reduction in travel speeds.
- How do I report a streetlight that is out, or request a new light to be installed?
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Existing streetlights are owned and maintained by Entergy. Streetlights that are out can be reported on their website or by calling 311.
Requests for new streetlights will be evaluated by Public Works - Engineering and a work order will be submitted to Entergy if the request is deemed appropriate. Streetlights will only be installed to illuminate city streets. Lights will not be installed on private property or in alleys.
- Is a permit needed to install a fence?
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If the fence is less than or equal to 6 feet tall and is located on private property, then a permit is not required. If the fence is over 6’ tall, it will need to be windstorm certified. A fence cannot extend into the city’s right-of-way or block an easement or alley. Tapering the height of the fence so that it gradually gets shorter as it gets closer to the road is a common practice, but not required.
- What is the process to install Fiber Optic Cables in the public right-of-way and City easements?
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Please see the guidelines here
- What is a road diet?
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Please see our road diet FAQ here.
- My ditches are full of water, how can you help me?
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We will dispatch a crew to remove debris and blockage from your drainage. The expected response time is 5 to 10 days depending on call volume.
- My street has a lot of leaves in the gutter. Will you come and sweep this area?
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We will schedule a sweeper for your area. The expected response time is 1 to 3 days depending on call volume.
- Who can help me with a street repair?
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We will send a crew out to investigate and complete the repair if necessary. Expected response times are 1 to 3 days depending on call volume. Concrete panels would take longer.