Purpose. The Borough hereby finds and declares that problems of traffic
control occur when traffic must be moved through or around road or
street construction, maintenance operations, and utility work, above-
or 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 workforces performing these operations.
Adoption of standards. The Borough of Spotswood in the County of
Middlesex, State of New Jersey, does hereby adopt the current Manual
on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, hereinafter known as M.U.T.C.D.,
including supplements and amendments, as it controls and regulates
whenever construction, maintenance operations or 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 article.
Preconstruction meetings. No later than 30 days prior to construction
the person, contractor or public utility wishing to conduct work on,
under or above the roadway shall contact the Chief of Police in order
to arrange a preconstruction meeting to submit plans for the safe
movement of traffic during such period of construction of work, except,
as deemed, emergency work. Any person, contractor or utility who fails
to comply with this article prior to the start of such work or whose
plans are not approved by the Chief of Police or designee of the Spotswood
Police Department is in violation of this article.
Emergency contact phone numbers. At least five business days prior
to commencement of work the person, contractor or utility shall provide
the Spotswood Police Department with at least two emergency contact
phone numbers. This number will be called in case of emergency problems
at the construction or maintenance site prior to the start of any
work. If, for any reasons, an emergency contact person does not respond
to the call to correct such hazardous condition, the Borough of Spotswood
may respond to correct such hazardous conditions. The reasonable fees
for such emergency services by the Borough shall be charged to the
person, contractor or utility responsible for such condition.
The Chief of Police, or his designee, shall establish the permissible
hours for construction or maintenance operation on each roadway. An
evaluation of each location, including known traffic patterns and
hazards, will be conducted to determine the most suitable hours for
construction or maintenance operations.
In situations where the construction or maintenance operation is
of significant magnitude, and the roadway upon which the work is to
be done is so heavily traveled that a road closure or partial closure
would cause excessive delays in traffic, the hours of construction
or maintenance operations may be further restricted.
Traffic directors. Traffic directors shall be posted at all construction
or maintenance sites when determined by the Spotswood Police Department
that the same is necessary to provide for the safe and expeditious
movement of traffic.
Stop-work orders. The Spotswood Police Department shall have the
authority to stop work, including the removal of equipment and vehicles,
stored materials 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 violations of this article.
Site preparation. It is 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.
Violations and penalties. Any person, contractor, utility or other
entity 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, all in the discretion of the Municipal Court Judge.
A separate offense shall be deemed committed on each day during which
a violation occurs or continues.