The purpose of this specification is to provide for the public good
and establish a permit process and requirements for roads, utility cuts in
roads and streets, backfilling of trenches, replacing of removed pavement
sections and regulating the location and construction of utility facilities
and other structures within Township highway rights-of-way for the purpose
of ensuring the structural integrity of the highway, economy of maintenance,
preservation of proper drainage and safe and convenient passage of traffic.
The definitions of words and terms, when used in this chapter, have
the meaning set forth below:
EMERGENCY
An unforeseen occurrence or combination of circumstances which calls
for immediate action or remedy.
EMERGENCY REPAIR
Repair to a utility facility undertaken to repair damage resulting
from a vehicle accident or collision with the facility, a failed component
or an Act of God. The term does not include service connections or disconnections
unrelated to vehicle accident, a failed component or an Act of God. This term
applies only to those repairs necessary for the safety of the public or the
restoration or continuance of public utility service or other public service.
INSPECTOR
The Township's authorized representative assigned to inspect
permit operations.
UTILITY
A person owning a utility facility, including any wholly owned or
controlled subsidiary.
UTILITY FACILITY or FACILITY
Privately, publicly or cooperatively owned lines, facilities and
systems for producing, transmitting or distributing communications, power,
electricity, light, heat, gas, oil, crude products, coal, water, steam, waste,
stormwater not connected to Township drainage facilities, and other similar
commodities including fire and police signal systems and streetlighting systems,
which directly or indirectly serve the public or any part thereof; privately
or cooperatively owned railroads or street railways or their crossings.
The Township will examine and determine the genuineness, regularity
and legality of every application and may reject an application if not satisfied
as to its genuineness, regularity or legality or the truth of a statement
contained in the application. The Township may also make investigations and
require additional information as it deems necessary.
Scope of permit. The permit is binding upon the permittee, its agents,
contractors, successors and assigns.
A. The permittee is responsible for causing compliance with
the terms and conditions of the permit by its employees, agents and contractors.
B. The permit shall be located at the work site and be available
for inspection by a police officer or representative of the Township.
C. The permit shall be maintained by the permittee as a
permanent record and remain in effect, subject to the permit conditions and
this chapter, as long as the permittee's facilities authorized by the
permit occupy the right-of-way.
D. The permittee is liable to the Township for failure to
comply with the permit and this chapter. The liability of the permittee to
the Township does not preclude the permittee or the Township from bringing
an action against the permittee's contractor, subcontractor, engineer,
architect, assignee, agent, workers, employees or other persons.
E. Additional restrictions. Work authorized by the permit
is subject to:
(1) Applicable laws, rules and regulations.
(2) The conditions, restrictions and provisions of the permit.
F. Permittee responsibilities. Permittee responsibilities
include the following:
(1) The permittee shall pay the costs and expense incident
to or arising from the project, including the prescribed fees for the project,
the cost of making and maintaining temporary restoration of the disturbed
areas and making permanent restoration. The permittee shall reimburse the
Township for inspection cost which the Township deems necessary to incur within
30 days after receipt of the Township's invoice.
(2) In the event of failure or neglect by the permittee to
perform and comply with the permit, the Township may immediately revoke and
annul the permit and order and direct the permittee to remove structure, equipment
or property belonging to the permittee or its contractors, or both, from the
legal limits of the right-of-way and to restore the right-of-way to its former
condition. If the Township determines that the structure, equipment or property
poses a threat to the public safety and the permittee fails to remove it after
notice from the Township to do so, the Township Solicitor, or his attorneys,
is authorized to enter an amicable action of ejectment and confess judgment
against the permittee. The attorney is authorized to issue forthwith a writ
of possession with a clause of fieri fascias for costs, without leave of court.
(3) At the end of a workday or when work is stopped on a
project, an opening in the right-of-way shall be covered, backfilled or protected
by steel plates.
(4) If the permittee, after making an opening in the surface
to place or repair a facility or for another purpose, fails to restore a portion
of the right-of-way, the Township reserves the right to do the work upon notice
to the permittee, if practicable, and the permittee shall reimburse the Township
for the costs within 30 days after receipt of the Township's invoice.
(5) If backfill or restoration work will be performed for
the permittee by a contractor, the permittee shall identify to the Township
both its contractor and its inspector-in-charge who shall be assigned to monitor
backfill and restoration work performed within the improved area. The permittee's
inspector-in-charge, as well as the permittee, is responsible for ensuring
the work is performed in compliance with the permit, this chapter and PennDOT
Publication 408. If no inspector is provided by the permittee, the Township
inspector will observe and inspect the work at the applicant's expense.
(6) The permittee shall notify the Township at least three
full workdays prior to the start of work.
G. Indemnification of the Township for property and personal
injury will be provided as required.
H. Insurance. The permittee shall provide insurance as required.
I. Maintaining structure or facility. As long as the permittee
operates and leaves in place structures or facilities in, upon or along the
right-of-way, the permittee shall maintain and keep them in good order and
repair.
J. Damaged structure or facility to be repaired. If a structure
or facility becomes damaged, the permittee shall promptly have it removed,
repaired or otherwise made safe. The permittee is responsible for repair or
restoration of the portion of the highway damaged by a structure or facility.
The permittee's obligation to repair or restore the highway necessitated
by a damaged structure or facility under this paragraph is separate from the
obligations to restore the highway and obtain a bond relating to restoration
and maintenance of the highway.
K. Damage to highway. Responsibility of the permittee for
restoration of the highway includes the following:
(1) If there is a failure of the highway, including a slope
or other appurtenance thereto, in the area of the permitted work, within 18
months after the acknowledged completion of the permitted work and there is
no similar failure of the highway beyond the area of the permitted work, the
permittee has absolute responsibility to make temporary and permanent restoration
of this area unless the permittee delivers clear and convincing evidence to
the Township office demonstrating that the highway failure was caused by another
person.
(2) In situations where the permittee has the responsibility
to restore the highway, including slope or another appurtenance thereto, the
permittee has the duty to restore the improved area in accordance with the
permit. If the permittee fails to restore the improved area properly, the
Township will have the authority to do the work at the expense of the permittee.
The permittee shall reimburse the Township for the costs within 30 days after
receipt of the Township's invoice.
(3) The obtaining of a bond, other security or an agreement
to secure restoration costs does not relieve the permittee of the restoration
obligations imposed. The obtaining of a bond, other security or an agreement
will not act as a release of the permittee from liability under principles
of tort law with respect to a failure of the highway in the permitted area
occurring after the expiration of the bond, other security or agreement.
L. Future highway changes. If in the future the highway
is altered for public convenience or necessity, the permittee shall at its
own cost and expense, change or relocate all or a part of the structures or
facilities authorized by the permit which interfere with the highway alterations
or which are inconsistent with the purpose of the highway alterations.
M. Acknowledgment by inspector. Acknowledgment by the inspector
of the Township that all or part of the permitted work has been completed
does not constitute approval or acceptance of the work or agreement that the
work was performed in accordance with the permit. Acknowledgment of completion
by the inspector will not act as a release of the permittee or waiver by the
Township of its right to seek performance or restitution from the permittee.
Traffic control shall be provided in accordance with PennDOT standards
for work zone traffic control, as last amended. (Reference: PennDOT Chapter
203 relating to work zone traffic control.)
A. Roads must be open to traffic at all times. Road closure
is only permitted with written authorization from the Township. If a roadway
is approved for closure, the applicant must:
(1) Post signs at the proposed closure location, detailing
road closing dates. Signs notifying motorists of closure must be posted at
least one week prior to the anticipated closure.
(2) Provide written notices to emergency services (police,
fire and ambulance) and school district notifying them of work at least one
week prior to the closure.
B. The Township may require an applicant to submit a traffic
control plan for review and approval. Such traffic control plan shall comply
with PennDOT regulations, Chapter 203, and shall clearly indicate how the
work area, vehicular and pedestrian traffic will be protected, maintained
and controlled.
Work shall conform to Township standards, including the following:
A. The work shall be done on weekdays between the hours
of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. unless otherwise authorized.
B. Highway materials shall be obtained from PennDOT-approved
sources which are identified in current PennDOT Publication Numbers 34, 35,
41 and 42. Upon request, the permittee shall make available for review certifications
for backfill and restoration materials placed within the improved area.
C. Construction methods shall conform to PennDOT publication
408, as last amended.
D. If it is found by the Township that the work is not being
done or has not been properly performed, the permittee shall promptly take
the necessary steps, at its own expense, to place the work in condition to
conform to the requirements or standards.
(1) If a dispute arises between the permittee and the Township's
inspector, the Township's inspector has the authority to suspend work
until the question at issue may be referred to and decided by the Township
office.
Altering drainage is prohibited. Altering drainage shall be prohibited
by the following conditions:
A. Unless specifically authorized by the permit, the permittee
may not:
(1) Alter the existing drainage pattern or the existing flow
of drainage water.
(2) Direct additional drainage of surface water toward, onto
or into or in any way affect the highway right-of-way or highway facilities.
B. The permit does not authorize the permittee to direct,
divert or otherwise drain surface waters over the property of another property
owner.
(1) The permit does not relieve the permittee from acquiring
the consent, permission or other authorization from a property owner who may
be adversely affected by drainage alterations.
(2) The permittee is responsible for damage caused to property
owners as a result of work done under the permit.
C. A permit will not be issued to authorize the discharge
of water into the right-of-way unless the water is surface drainage.
Backfilling. An opening shall be backfilled by the permittee in accordance
with the following:
A. The opening may first be backfilled with fine aggregate
material, meeting the requirements of PennDOT regulations, Section 703.1 of
Publication 408, or granular material to protect the facility, placed to a
height not to exceed one foot over the top of the facility, if the material
is compacted in not more than four-inch loose layers or as authorized under
Publication 408.
B. To help protect its facility from future excavations,
the permittee is encouraged to place a permanent colored ribbon under Subsection
B(1) at least one foot above its facility. If the facility is nonmetallic,
the permittee is also encouraged to place a metallic ribbon at a depth from
which the ribbon can be sensed by typical metal locating instruments.
C. The opening shall then be backfilled with 2A.
D. Backfill shall be compacted as follows:
(1) General rule. Backfill material shall be placed in loose
layers not to exceed eight inches if vibratory compaction equipment is used.
Each layer shall be thoroughly compacted to 97% to 100% compaction.
(2) Existing pavement elevation. Compaction shall be completed
to the bottom elevation of the existing pavement.
E. The Township may require the permittee to have material
proposed for use as backfill and compacted material tested, at the expense
of the permittee, for conformance to the applicable gradation and compaction
requirements of Publication 408.
F. Test holes shall be backfilled, as soon as safely possible,
with material authorized by the Township. The Township office may authorize
test holes in the pavement or shoulder to be restored with a one-foot cutback
of the surrounding surface.
The responsibility of the permittee for disposition of materials is
as follows:
A. The permittee shall keep the improved area free of material
which may be deposited by vehicles traveling upon or entering onto the highway
during the performance of work authorized by the permit.
B. The permittee is responsible for controlling dust conditions
created by its own operations.
C. Excess material and material that is not suitable for
backfill shall be promptly removed and properly disposed of as the work progresses.
D. Other material shall be stored so that there will be
no interference with the flow of highway drainage.
E. The permittee is not authorized to close a portion of
the pavement or shoulder to traffic for the primary purpose of storing material.
If the permittee stores material on the pavement or shoulder, the permittee
thereby acknowledges its obligation and commitment to repair or reconstruct
the pavement and shoulder, if damaged, to its former condition, in a manner
authorized by the Township office. Delivered material may not be stored overnight
on the pavement.
Additional restoration shall be required as follows: Disturbed portions
of the highway, including but not limited to slopes and appurtenances and
structures such as guiderails, curbs, signs, markings, drain pipes, driveways,
mailboxes and vegetation shall be restored by the permittee to a condition
at least equal to that which existed before the start of work authorized by
the permit, if the restoration is consistent with the Roadway Construction
Standards. Additional restoration may also be required, upon written notification,
to restore the structural integrity of the pavement or shoulder.
Equipment damaging highway. A highway shall be protected in accordance
with the following:
A. To protect the pavement and shoulders, equipment shall
have rubber wheels or runners and have rubber, wood or similar protective
pads between the outriggers and the surface unless otherwise authorized by
the permit.
B. If other than rubber equipped machinery, the pavement
and shoulders shall be protected from equipment damage by the use of matting
or other suitable protective material.
C. If the equipment damages the pavement or shoulders, the
permittee shall restore the damaged pavement or shoulder, or both, to its
former condition, in a manner authorized by the Township.
No person may attach a utility facility to Township bridge or modify
an existing facility until the owner of the utility facility has obtained
written permission from the Township.
All streets shall be graded the full width of the right-of-way to the
grades shown on the street profile and cross-section plan submitted and approved
with the preliminary plan. They shall be inspected and checked for accuracy
by the Township Engineer or the Township representative.
Prior to blasting within the right-of-way, insurance and proof of licensure
shall be furnished to the Township.
A. Must be in accordance with PennDOT regulations, Form
408.
B. If blasting is necessary, the Township may require a
full-time inspector. The expense of that inspector shall be reimbursed back
to the Township by the developer or contractor.
C. If roadway is raised or damaged, the Township will require
those sections to be repaired to Township standards.
D. If blasting is required, the Township will require the
contractor and/or developer to post bonding for the protection of the roadways.
E. If 50% or more of a roadway is damaged, the Township
will require base restoration and an overlay of the entire roadway.
F. No predrilling or blasting may be performed within the
right-of-way unless authorized by a permit and until the permittee provides
insurance for property damage and public liability.
G. The blaster's license number shall be furnished
upon request.
H. No blasting will be permitted within 50 feet of the nearest
part of a bridge, box or culvert.
I. The permittee's obligation for restoration of the
highway shall include failure of the highway occasioned by blasting.
The Township of Lower Frederick or its designees are exempt from this
chapter.
Any person who violates or permits a violation of this chapter shall,
upon being found liable therefor in a civil enforcement proceeding commenced
by the Township before a District Justice, pay a fine of not less than $100
nor more than $600, plus all court costs, including reasonable attorney's
fees, incurred by the Township in the enforcement of this chapter. No judgment
shall be imposed until the date of the determination of the violation by the
District Justice. If the defendant neither pays nor timely appeals the judgment,
the Township may enforce the judgment pursuant to the applicable Rules of
Civil Procedure. Each day a violation exists shall constitute a separate offense.
Further, the appropriate officers or agents of the Township are hereby authorized
to seek equitable relief, including injunction, to enforce compliance herewith.