[Adopted 8-4-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-10]
The purpose of this Article 7 is to address problems of traffic control occur when traffic must be moved through and around road or street construction, maintenance operations and utility work, above or below ground, which requires blocking the roadway and obstructing the normal flow of traffic, and that such obstructions are or can become dangerous when not properly controlled. In order to better promote the public health, safety, peace and welfare, it is necessary to establish controls and regulations directed to the safe and expeditious movement of traffic through construction and maintenance zones and to provide safety for the work forces performing such operations.
The Township of Chester does hereby adopts the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), as amended and supplemented from time to time and except as hereby explicitly or implicitly amended and supplemented, as it controls and regulates whenever construction, maintenance operations or utility work obstructs the normal flow of traffic. Any person, utility or contractor failing to comply with the provisions of the MUTCD while performing such work is in violation of this section.
For the purposes of this article, the following terms shall have the meanings herein set forth:
CHIEF OF POLICE
The Chief of Police of the Township of Chester or his designee.
CONTRACTOR
Construction companies, excavators, land developers and any and all persons connected with construction affecting traffic conditions, including the owner and/or resident of the affected property.
ROADWAY or STREET
Any road, highway, public way, public alley, easement or other right-of-way over which the public travels or to which the public has access, whether publicly or privately maintained and/or owned, including dedicated but unaccepted subdivision streets.
It shall be the responsibility of the contractor wishing to work below, on or above any roadway to contact the Chief of Police to arrange a preconstruction meeting to submit plans for the safe movement of traffic during the period of construction work. Failure to comply with this section prior to the start of work or working without approval of the traffic plan by the Chief of Police is a violation of this section.
Prior to the start of any work, the contractor shall provide to the Chief of Police, with sufficient copies for the project engineer, the Superintendent of Public Works and the Township Administrator, at least two emergency phone numbers to be called in case of emergency problems at the work site. If the emergency contacts cannot be reached or, after being reached, fail to respond to a call from the police to correct a hazardous condition, the Township may correct such condition and assess the reasonable cost of same to the contractor.
The Chief of Police shall maintain a list of roads determined to be heavily traveled for the purposes of this article, and such determination, which may be amended from time to time, shall be binding. A copy of the list of such roads shall be available for review during normal business hours, and contractors may obtain a copy on request.
No construction, maintenance operations or utility work shall be conducted below, on or above any heavily traveled roadway before the hour of 9:00 a.m. or after the hour of 4:00 p.m., except that in emergency situations or when traffic volumes dictate, the Chief of Police may modify or waive such limits. On all other streets, hours of operation shall be from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Notwithstanding the provisions of § 153-37B as to this article, no roadway shall be closed nor any detour established without the prior consent of the Chief of Police, who, after consultation with the Superintendent of Public Works and the project engineer, shall specify the times and dates for the closing and reopening of the roadway, and no deviation therefrom shall be permitted. Requests for roadway closings or detours must be made not fewer than 72 hours in advance, except that where any emergency exists, such closings or detours may be approved immediately at the sole discretion of the Chief of Police.
Traffic directors shall be posted at all construction or maintenance sites when it is determined by the Chief of Police that the same are necessary to provide for safety and the expeditious movement of traffic. In any instance where it is necessary to change the direction of any vehicle or pedestrian, a uniformed police officer shall be required, the same to be provided at the expense of the contractor.
The Chief of Police shall have the authority to stop work and/or order the removal of vehicles and/or equipment and/or stored materials in the right-of-way, backfilling of open excavations and/or any related work in order to abate any nuisance, traffic delay or safety hazard or any violation of this article.
In case of an emergency where construction, maintenance or utility work must be performed and where such work will obstruct, interfere with or detour traffic on any roadway within the Township, the contractor shall immediately notify the Chief of Police of the nature of the emergency, the location thereof and the hours of work. All such emergency work will be performed with full regard to safety and the absolute minimization of traffic interference.
All signing and other traffic control devices shall be placed on self-supporting structures and shall not be affixed to trees, utility poles or traffic devices which are the property of the township. All signing and other traffic control devices shall conform to the MUTCD, current edition. All signing and other traffic control devices shall be kept clean and distinct and free from grease, dust or other blurring matter so as to be plainly visible at all times of the day or night. No signing or other traffic control devices shall be permitted to be obscured by trees or parked vehicles.
At the time of the preconstruction meeting, the types of proposed traffic control devices to be utilized for the project shall be shown by a diagram and a written list. A copy of the diagram as approved by the Chief of Police shall be maintained by the contractor at all times at the job site for possible review.
A violation of any section of this Article 7 shall be punishable in municipal court, upon conviction thereof, by a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $1,000 or imprisonment for not more than 90 days, or both. Each day upon which a violation occurs shall be deemed a separate offense, and violation of more than one section of this article shall constitute separate violations.