Highway Department

 

Gary DePue

Highway Commissioner

(708) 596-5955

gdepue@thorntontwp.com

Highway Commissioner Gary DePue oversees the daily operations of the Thornton Township Highway Department. Under his guidance, the Highway Department is responsible for the construction, repair, and maintenance of all roadways and adjacent easements within the unincorporated boundaries of Thornton Township.

The employees of the Highway Department are certified by the Illinois Department of Transportation in various areas, including snow and ice control, flagging and sign work, asphalt application, and drainage management. During the summer months, the department’s duties encompass tasks such as redigging drainage ditches, replacing culverts, filling potholes, sealing cracks, and ensuring the upkeep of areas adjacent to township roads. In the winter months, the department engages in snow removal and de-icing of unincorporated roadways, alongside vehicle maintenance and the repair of garages and facilities.

The Highway Department also assists in maintaining and repairing the township’s senior transportation buses.

On an annual basis, Commissioner DePue presents an equipment inventory and a report on the Highway Department’s finances. He also submits the department’s yearly budget proposal to the township supervisor and board of trustees. This budget outlines the necessary funds required to support labor, construction, materials, machinery, equipment, and supplies essential for the proper maintenance of unincorporated roadways.