[Adopted 9-21-2004 by Ord. No. O-04-39]
A. 
This article shall not serve to replace any separate requirements made by the Township Engineer.
B. 
It shall be the responsibility of the person, contractor, or in the case of a public utility, as required under § 16:25-9.2 of the New Jersey Administrative Code, wishing to conduct work on, under or above the street, to contact the Traffic Safety Unit of the Police Department of the Township of Howell in order to arrange a preconstruction meeting and submit plans for the safe movement of traffic during such period of construction or work.
C. 
Traffic control plans submitted to the Traffic Safety Unit shall be completely legible. They will clearly reflect the area where the work will be performed and indicate precisely what signage and warning devices will be used. It shall not be the responsibility of the Howell Township Police Department to design a traffic control plan, only to review, modify as needed, and approve such plans.
D. 
Any person, contractor or utility who fails to comply with this section prior to the start of such work, or whose plans are not approved by the Traffic Safety Unit of the Howell Township Police Department, is in violation of this article.
E. 
The person, contractor or utility shall be provided a copy of this entire article and sign the appropriate form acknowledging receipt of the article and understanding of its contents.
F. 
Requirements prior to street closing or restrictions. The following steps shall be taken before any street may be closed or restricted to traffic:
[Added 12-11-2012 by Ord. No. O-12-25]
(1) 
The permittee must receive the approval of the Township Engineer and the Police Department.
(2) 
The permittee, at least 24 hours prior to commencement of construction, must notify the Chief of the fire districts and the first aid squads, together with the Howell Township Board of Education and Freehold Regional Board of Education Transportation Coordinators.
(3) 
Where flagmen are deemed necessary by the Township Engineer, they shall be furnished by the permittee at its own expense.
(4) 
Through traffic shall be maintained without the aid of detours, if possible. In instances in which this would not be feasible, the Chief of Police will designate detours. The Township shall maintain roadway surfaces of existing highways designated as detours without expense to the permittee, but in case there are no existing highways, the permittee shall construct all detours at its own expense and in conformity with the specifications of the Township Engineer. The permittee will be responsible for any unnecessary damage caused to any highway by the operation of its equipment.
(5) 
Upon completion of the construction work, the permittee shall notify the Township Engineer and Police Department before traffic is moved back to its normal flow so that any necessary adjustments may be made.
The person, contractor or utility shall provide at least two emergency contact telephone numbers to be called in case of emergency problems at the construction or maintenance site prior to the start of any work. If, for any reason, emergency contact cannot be made, or if the emergency contact person/persons do/does not respond to a call from the Police Department to correct such hazardous condition, the Township of Howell may respond to correct the hazardous condition(s). The reasonable fees for such emergency services by the Township of Howell shall be charged to the person, contractor, or utility responsible for the condition(s).
There shall be no construction, maintenance, operations, or utility work on any roadway in the Township before the hour of 9:00 a.m. or after 4:00 p.m. The Chief of the Howell Township Police Department, or the Traffic Safety Unit at his direction, may adjust this time limit to permit work prior to 9:00 a.m. or after 4:00 p.m. If the officer in charge determines that the construction or maintenance operations prior to 9:00 a.m. or after 4:00 p.m. would substantially delay traffic or cause a safety or health hazard, the work shall then be permitted only between 9:00 a.m. or after 4:00 p.m.
[Amended 12-11-2012 by Ord. No. O-12-25]
Road closing and/or traffic detours shall not be permitted unless approved by the Howell Township Police Department and Township Engineer.
A. 
Trained and qualified traffic directors or flagging personnel shall be posted at all construction or maintenance sites when determined by the Traffic Safety Unit of the Howell Township Police Department that same is necessary to provide for the safe and expeditious movement of traffic. Those controlling traffic must use M.U.T.C.D.-compliant STOP/SLOW paddles to signal traffic. Flags are not permitted unless it is an emergency. A planned project does not constitute an emergency. Traffic directors, both police and civilian, shall wear safety vests that meet M.U.T.C.D.[1] specifications. Both police officers and civilian flagging personnel shall use STOP/SLOW paddles when required to stop and release traffic through a work zone.
[1]
Editor's Note: State's Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
B. 
Per N.J.S.A. 39:4-81, only police officers may control traffic at intersections controlled by a traffic signal or regulatory signage. Police officers shall be used for traffic control at road work sites that include intersections with traffic control devices such as stop signs and traffic lights.
Any officer of the Howell Township Police Department shall have the authority to stop work, including the removal of equipment and vehicles, stored material within the street right-of-way, backfilling of open excavations and/or related work, in order to abate any nuisance and/or safety hazard or for any violation of this article.
A. 
All construction sites shall have proper and ample guards, barricades, signs and, if required, lights maintained on site to sufficiently warn motorists and pedestrians of the dangers attendant to the project from the time the project is started until the same is completed and the area restored per Township requirements and completely opened to public travel.
B. 
It is to be expressly understood that no materials, vehicles or equipment are to be placed in the roadway or sidewalk or until all construction, signs, light devices and pavement markings are installed in accordance to the M.U.T.C.D. and the approved traffic control plan submitted by the contractor to the Police Department. All signage and traffic control devices shall be in excellent condition and kept clean and properly posted by the contractor.
C. 
Work area and/or detour signage, when applicable, shall be removed or covered by the contractor when the work is completed for the day or the detour is not in effect. All signage related to the project shall be removed promptly upon completion of the project.
D. 
While on site, the signs shall state in clear letters the number of houses being built, or square footage of and type of commercial development being constructed, the hours of operation for construction, as provided for by Howell ordinances, including its ordinance on prohibited noises, § 208-7, and as amended, or other applicable ordinance, including but not limited to prohibitions against any and all construction noise in contravention of the standards of said ordinance, between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. the following day on weekdays, between 8:00 p.m. Friday night and 8:00 a.m. Saturday morning and between the hours of 6:00 p.m. on Saturdays through 7:00 a.m. on Mondays, and on all legal holidays, or as hereinafter amended, or if more restrictive standards are contained in any approval the Township of Howell or the Planning or Zoning Boards, said information and requirements shall also be provided for in said signs.
[Added 8-12-2008 by Ord. No. O-08-34]
[Amended 8-12-2008 by Ord. No. O-08-34]
Any contractor or utility who commits a violation of this article shall upon conviction thereof for a first offense pay a minimum fine of $2,000 and for any subsequent offense shall be subject to any additional penalty provided by the Code of Howell Township, Chapter 1, General Provisions, Article II, General Penalty, § 1-4. Additionally, for a second offense, such contractor or utility shall be subject to a stop-work order.