Township of Washington, NJ Road Specifications

The purpose of this chapter shall be to provide rules and standards for the improvements required prior to the acceptance of roads or improvements into the road or utility systems of the Township of Washington, Warren County. This section shall apply to new roads, improvements of rights-of-way presently used but not accepted into the township road or improvement systems and not heretofore accepted for full township maintenance.

Approval of the design of the road shall be by the approving agency to whom application for subdivision approval has been made as regulated by the land use ordinances of the township.[1] If not part of a subdivision, approval shall be by the Township Committee. The Township Engineer will review and, when satisfied with the design, will recommend to the approving agency that the plans for construction of the roads and other improvements envisioned therein be approved.

[1]

Editor's Note: For regulations related to land use, see Ch. 64, Development Regulations, and Ch. 123, Zoning.

Approval.

The submission shall be accompanied by copies of the application for approval from any local, county, state or federal agency having an interest in the application, and approval by the Township Engineer will not be given until proof of approval or intent to approve by these agencies has been received.

Construction plans shall be submitted in plan, profile and cross section, together with construction details sufficient for full review and adequate to be used as the plans for actual construction. Drawings for the plan and profile shall be drawn to a minimum scale of one inch equals 40 feet, horizontal, and one inch equals five feet, vertical. Cross sections shall be drawn for each fifty-foot station along the road center line. Cross sections shall be drawn to a scale of one inch equals five feet, both horizontal and vertical, and shall be based upon a field survey. Details shall be drawn to a scale so as to be legible and easily read by a person in the field. All drawings shall be on sheets not larger than 24 inches by 36 inches.

After the road has been constructed in accordance with the standards and specifications, the Township Engineer shall certify to the Township Committee that all work has been completed in an acceptable manner in conformance with these standards and specifications. The developer shall prepare a deed granting the right-of-way to the township which shall be reviewed and approved by the Township Attorney. Following these certifications, the Township Committee shall, by ordinance drafted by the Township Attorney, accept the road into the township road system.

Review and inspection deposit.

When the road is part of a major subdivision, no additional fees or deposits shall be required.

When the road is not part of a major subdivision, a nonrefundable review fee of $1,000 shall be submitted to the Township Committee with the application and plans. In addition to the application fee, an inspection deposit determined as specified in Chapter 64, § 64-12F, shall be submitted prior to the start of construction.

Bonding. Bonding shall be as specified in Chapter 64.

§ 99-2 Classes of roads.

The following classes of roads are hereby established:

Class 1a, primary collector.

Class 1b, secondary collector.

Class 2, local.

The above classes of roads are defined as follows:

A primary collector road runs between arterial roads or links major traffic generators.

A secondary collector road gathers vehicular traffic from local roads and directs such traffic to either primary collector roads or to arterial roads.

Local roads are to function to provide access for vehicular and pedestrian traffic to individual lots and dwellings.

Placement of homes fronting on primary and secondary collector roads shall be avoided whenever possible.

At the time of action on the sketch plat of a proposed subdivision, the approving authority will determine the class of road for each of the roads proposed within the subdivision.

For the purposes of this chapter, the words "road" and "street" shall be interchangeable.

§ 99-3 Design standards.

General. The layout of roads shall conform to the Master Plan and shall be such that the roads shall lend themselves to the harmonious development of the township and enhance the public welfare. Roads shall be designed in accordance with the attached table.[1]

[1]

Editor's Note: Said Table of Design Standards is located at the end of this chapter.

The arrangement of roads not shown on the Master Plan shall be such as to provide for the extension of existing roads.

Local roads shall be designed to discourage through traffic.

Subdivisions that adjoin or include existing roads that do not conform to the widths and physical conditions as shown on the Master Plan or the requirements of this chapter shall dedicate additional width along one or both sides of said road and shall make such other improvements as the approving authority may require. If the subdivision is along one side only, 1/2 of the required extra width shall be dedicated, and the improvements shall be constructed along that side.

Intersections shall be at right angles. Block corners at intersections shall be rounded with a curve radius of not less than 25 feet.

Reverse curves shall not be permitted on Class 1a roads. The minimum tangent lengths between curves on Class 1b roads shall be 100 feet.

The minimum center-line curve radius shall be as follows:

Class 1a: 800 feet.

Class 1b: 500 feet.

Class 2: 250 feet.

All changes in grade shall be connected by vertical curves to provide smooth transition and proper sight distance per American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials standards.

Road names may be proposed by the developer. Approval of the names will be by the Township Committee. The continuation of an existing road shall have the same name. No road shall have a name which will duplicate, or so nearly duplicate as to be confused with, the names of existing roads in the township or adjacent municipalities with same post office address.

A sight-easement in the form of a triangle shall be provided at all intersections which shall extend for a distance of 150 feet in each direction along the side lines of the intersected road and the following distances along the side lines of the intersecting road:

Class 1a and 1b: 150 feet.

Class 2: 50 feet.

Offsets between roads entering a common road from opposite sides shall be at least 150 feet. Offsets between roads entering on the same side shall be at least 300 feet.

The length of dead-end roads shall not exceed 1,200 feet. The allowable length shall be further limited by the requirements that there may not be more than 20 single-family lots using the road for access.

[2]Dead-end roads shall terminate with a cul-de-sac having a hammer-head configuration as shown on the attached drawing.[3]

[2]

Editor's Note: Former Subsection M, regarding common development driveways, was repealed 8-18-1992 by Ord. No. 92-5. This ordinance also provided for the relettering of former Subsections N through T as Subsections M through S, respectively.

[3]

Editor's Note: The hammer-head cul-de-sac configuration is on file in the office of the Township Clerk.

Drainage design shall be in accordance with applicable sections of the Development Regulations of the township.[4] The rational method shall be used, and the design storm drainage structures within the right-of-way shall be the twenty-five-year storm.

[4]

Editor's Note: See Ch. 64, Development Regulations.

Construction details shall be in accordance with the attached drawing, Standard Details for Streets, Roads and Other Improvements in the Township of Washington, Warren County.[5]

[5]

Editor's Note: The Standard Details for Streets, Roads and Other Improvements in the Township of Washington, Warren County, is on file in the office of the Township Clerk.

An approved erosion and sediment control plan shall be included. Approval shall be by the Warren County Soil Conservation District.

Shade trees of the type and species as approved by the approving authority shall be placed along the right-of-way. Shade trees shall be at least two inches in caliper and shall be placed at least every 125 feet along both sides of the right-of-way.

Traffic control devices, street name signs and other regulatory signs shall be furnished and installed by the developer. Such devices and signs shall be in conformance with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways.

Detours and closings of adjoining streets shall not be made without prior approval of the Township Engineer. Regardless of the Township Engineer's approval, it shall be the responsibility of the developer to notify all other interested parties and regulatory agencies of detours and closings. Emergency vehicles shall have access to existing roads at all times.

§ 99-4 Construction standards.

General.

All construction shall follow good engineering standards and shall further follow standards and specifications as set forth in the New Jersey Department of Transportation Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction, 1983, unless modified herein.

All work shall be subject to inspection and approval by the Township Engineer or his authorized representative. The Township Engineer and his designated representatives shall have access to inspect the work at all times. This inspection notwithstanding, it is incumbent upon the developer and his contractor to perform the work and furnish the necessary materials in conformance with the approved plans and specifications, and any faulty work or materials which, in the opinion of the Township Engineer, are not in conformance shall be removed and replaced or corrected at the sole cost and expense of the developer and/or his contractor, even if such removal and correction require removal of properly constructed work which may be in the way. It is not the intention of this chapter that the Township Engineer or his representative shall act as the foreman for the developer or his contractor.

All materials will be inspected, tested and approved by the Township Engineer before incorporation in the work. Materials which do not meet standard specification requirements shall not be used and shall be removed if they have been incorporated in the work. Tests may be made by the Township Engineer or, at the Engineer's direction, by a qualified testing laboratory. Costs of all testing shall be paid by the developer.

(4)

Developers and their contractors are put on notice that only manufactured and farm products of the United States, whenever available, may be used in any project which is to be taken over by the township.

(5)

Prior to start of work, the developer and his contractor shall meet with the Township Engineer to discuss work schedules and procedures.

Earthwork.

Topsoil shall be stripped from all areas to be excavated and from all areas where fill material is to be placed. Topsoil shall be stockpiled on the project and later used within the project. No topsoil shall be removed from the project without prior approval by the Township Engineer.

Unsuitable or unstable material shall be removed and replaced with suitable material where encountered.

Fills shall be compacted by the density control method unless otherwise directed by the Township Engineer. Compaction shall be to 95% of maximum laboratory density as determined by AASHTO T-99, Method D.

Pavements.

Pavement thickness and type shall be as specified in § 99-2.

Alternate pavement types and thickness may be permitted upon application. Alternates shall be at least equivalent in strength and durability to those proposed herein. The approving authority, with the recommendation of the Township Engineer, shall be the final judge of the acceptability of alternates. Applications for alternates shall include detailed construction specifications for their use and detailed engineering data to prove their compatibility.

Paving may not begin until approval of the subgrade has been given by the Township Engineer.

Road drainage.

Underdrain shall be constructed where necessary as construction progresses. The Township Engineer shall determine where underdrains are necessary.

Pipes are to be laid true to line and grade as established by the approved plans. Pipe alignment shall be controlled by means of laser.

Within paved areas and at least five feet farther, all trenches shall be backfilled with soil aggregate Type I-2 or other material as approved by the Township Engineer.

(4)

Outside of paved areas, backfill material for the first 24 inches above the pipe shall be soil aggregate Type I-2, above which native soil may be used if suitable and approved by the Township Engineer.

(5)

All trench backfill shall be placed in lifts not exceeding 12 inches in thickness and compacted with suitable mechanical equipment to the satisfaction of the Township Engineer.

Landscaping. Trees larger than six inches in diameter shall be saved whenever possible and shall be protected from damage. Fills may not be placed around trees which are to be protected. Trees which are to remain in areas to be filled shall be protected by means of tree walls.

Utilities.

All utilities shall be placed underground.