Who is responsible for storm drainage?
A.Pennsylvania highway and bridge laws are complicated and extensive with various interpretations based on case law. PENNDOT’s roads and bridges serve as a flow area for the transmittal of water across its right-of way and can discharge water onto private property through highway cross-pipes. In most cases, PENNDOT is responsible to maintain bridges, cross pipes and open drainage ditches within the legal right-of-way of a state road. PENNDOT can maintain fifty feet up and down a stream that crosses a state road. When damage may result from upstream land use changes and other circumstances, as well as downstream responsibilities, it is more difficult to determine responsibility until a field review and research is accomplished. Q.
