[Added 10-13-1997 by Ord. No. 555]
The Township Committee hereby finds and declares
that problems of traffic control occur when traffic must be moved
through or around street construction, maintenance operations and
utility work, above and 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 force performing
these operations. The Township of Boonton, in the County of Morris,
State of New Jersey, does hereby adopt the current Manual on Uniform
Traffic Control Devices, hereafter known as "M.U.T.C.D.," except as
hereby supplemented and amended, as it controls and regulates whenever
construction maintenance operations of utility work obstructs the
normal flow of traffic. Any person, contractor or utility who fails
to comply with the provisions of M.U.T.C.D. while performing such
work is in violation of this section. Copies of the M.U.T.C.D. are
on file in the Township Clerk's office.
It shall be the responsibility of the person,
contractor or in the case of a public utility, as required under the
public utility agreement, wishing to conduct work on, under or above
the roadway to contact the Boonton Township Police Department in order
to arrange a preconstruction meeting to submit plans for the safe
movement of traffic during such period of construction or work. 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 Police Department is in violation of this section. The Police
Department may waive the requirement of a preconstruction meeting
in appropriate circumstances at the discretion of the Chief of Police
or his designee.
The person, contractor or utility shall provide
the Police Department with at least two emergency contact phone 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
the emergency contact cannot be reached or if the emergency contact
person does not respond to the call from the Police Department to
correct a hazardous condition, the Township may respond to correct
such hazardous conditions. The reasonable fees for such emergency
service by the Township shall be charged to the person, contractor
or utility responsible for such conditions.
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. This time limit may be adjusted
to permit work prior to 9:00 a.m. or after 4:00 p.m. by the Chief
of Police of the Boonton Township Police Department or his designee.
If it is determined by the Chief of Police or his designee 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. to
4:00 p.m.
Road closings and/or traffic detours shall not
be permitted unless approved by the Boonton Township Police Department.
Traffic directors shall be posted at all construction
or maintenance sites when determined by the Boonton Township Police
Department that the same is necessary to provide for the safe and
expeditious movement of traffic.
The Boonton 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 other related work, in order to abate any
nuisance and/or safety hazard or for any violation of this section.
It is to be expressly understood that no materials,
vehicles or equipment are to be placed in the roadway or sidewalk
area until all construction, signs, lights, devices and pavement markings
are installed.
[Added 7-10-2023 by Ord.
No. 925]
A.
Any person, entity, contractor or utility wishing to conduct work
on, under or above any roadway within the Township of Boonton which
is anticipated to take longer than one hour shall be required to hire
off-duty members of the Township of Boonton Police Department when
determined by the Township of Boonton Chief of Police or designee
to be necessary to ensure compliance with the M.U.T.C.D., as well
as to control traffic through the work zone.
B.
The Township of Boonton Police Department shall be contacted at least
48 hours before starting work to arrange for the hiring of off-duty
police officers.
C.
All work on, under or over any roadway within the Township of Boonton
which is anticipated to take less than one hour may be controlled
with civilian flagmen, unless off-duty officers are deemed necessary
and approved by the Township of Boonton Chief of Police or designee.
All civilian flagmen shall wear high-visibility safety apparel that
meets the Performance Class 2 or 3 requirements of the ANSI/ISEA 107-2004
publication entitled "American National Standard for High-Visibility
Apparel and Headwear" and must be trained in safe traffic control
practices and public contact techniques. If flagmen cannot see each
other, they must have radio communication between them.
D.
The contracting and payment of all members of the Township Police Department shall at all times be in accordance with the provisions pertaining to outside employment of Township Police set forth at Chapter 28 of the Code of the Township of Boonton.
E.
If the work requires any road to be closed to traffic 24 hours a
day, the hiring of off-duty officers or special police officers shall
only be required when deemed necessary and approved by the Township
of Boonton Chief of Police or the Chief's designee.
[Added 7-10-2023 by Ord.
No. 925]
A.
In the case of emergency repair work where construction, maintenance
operations or emergency utility work must be performed that will obstruct,
interfere or detour traffic on any roadway in the Township, the person,
contractor or utility performing such operation shall notify the Township
of Boonton Police Department of such emergency operation. The person,
contractor or utility shall disclose the nature of the emergency,
location and hours of operation.
B.
All emergency construction and maintenance operations shall be performed
with full regard to safety and to keep traffic interference to an
absolute minimum. During such emergency repair work, the person, contractor
or utility shall comply with the provisions of the M.U.T.C.D. and
this chapter while performing such emergency repair work.
[Amended 7-10-2023 by Ord. No. 925]
Any person, contractor or utility who commits
a violation of this article shall, upon conviction thereof, for a
first offense, pay a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $500
and/or be imprisoned in the county jail for a term not exceeding 90
days and for a second offense, upon conviction thereof, pay a fine
of not less than $250 and/or be imprisoned in the county jail for
a term not exceeding 90 days. A separate offense shall be deemed committed
on each day during or on which a violation occurs or continues.
