[HISTORY: Adopted by Town Meeting of the Town of Bethel 10-4-1966.
Amendments noted where applicable.]
No person or persons shall cause the surface of any public highway within
the Town of Bethel to be excavated without first obtaining a permit from the
office of the Selectmen.
A.
Before any permit is issued, a bond shall be required
as hereinafter set forth:
(1)
For service connections and repairs to same (trenches
50 feet or less in length), a cash bond in the amount of not less than $150
shall be required.
[Amended 12-1-1979]
(2)
For utility trenches and repairs to same (trenches 50
feet or more in length), a surety bond, cash or certified check of an amount
to be determined by the Selectmen dependent upon the nature of the work shall
be required.
B.
The Selectmen shall release the bond upon certification
by the Town Superintendent of Highways that the work has been accomplished
in the manner as set forth in the succeeding sections of this chapter.
Before commencing any work on or in a public highway, the excavator
shall notify the Superintendent of Highways and the Superintendent of the
Water Department of his intent so that these public officials may be aware
of the work. Failure to so do will be grounds for immediate invalidation of
the permit.
During the course of work, proper barricades and lights shall be erected
and maintained to protect the public. If, in the judgment of the Superintendent
of Highways, adequate safeguards have not been taken, he shall immediately
cause the situation to be rectified, and the cost of same shall be deducted
from the bond.
The excavator shall prosecute the work diligently at all times, and
the manner of working shall be under the immediate direction of the Superintendent
of Highways. Failure to conform to his direction shall be cause for immediate
invalidation of the permit.
Regardless of the type of material excavated, only dry granular material
shall be used for backfill purposes, and all unsuitable material shall be
forthwith removed from the site of the excavation. The backfill material shall
be thoroughly compacted in twelve-inch layers by suitable methods, and in
all cases only approved bank-run gravel shall be used for the top 12 inches.
When the backfill material has been placed and compacted as directed,
the excavator shall install a temporary patch using a hot or cold bituminous
mix of a type approved by the Superintendent of Highways. This patch shall
remain in place for a period of 60 days, during which time the excavator shall
be responsible for the maintenance of same. At the end of this period the
excavator shall install a permanent patch as hereinafter set forth.
The permanent surfacing shall consist of asphaltic concrete only and
shall be installed in two courses, the first course to consist of a binder
mix and the final to consist of a finish mix, the total depth of which shall
be two inches (compacted thickness). In preparing the trench for the final
surfacing, the old material shall be fully excavated and the edges of the
trench cut off six inches wider than the original width of the excavation.
All edges shall be neatly trimmed to form straight lines insofar as possible,
and a compressor or masonry saw shall be used for this purpose. Compaction
of the trench shall be by means of vibratory equipment or other mechanical
means of a type approved by the Superintendent of Highways. All edges shall
be sealed using an approved sealing compound.
The excavator shall at all times keep the adjoining highway free of
loose material. If excessive dusting is taking place, he shall place calcium
chloride in such amounts as to minimize inconvenience to the adjacent landowners
and to the traveling public.
