Street openings may be made without the necessity of a written application, as provided for in §
85-2 hereof, in emergencies such as broken or frozen water mains or other happenings which would endanger public life, health and safety, provided that notice thereof shall be immediately given verbally to the Police Department. Written application for a permit shall nevertheless be made to the Borough as soon as may be convenient but, in any such event, within 48 hours or the next business day, all in accordance with §
85-1 hereof.
Backfill and permanent restoration of the street shall be completed according to the provisions of §§
85-8,
85-9 and
85-13G, as applicable. Upon completion of the work involved in such street opening, a request for inspection shall be made to the Construction Code Official. The inspection shall be performed by the Construction Code Official, Superintendent of Public Works or the Borough Engineer. If the inspection discloses that the street has been properly restored, (s)he shall issue a certificate of proper restoration to the permittee.
The permittee shall be responsible for the proper maintenance
of that portion of the street for which the permit has been issued,
including continued backfilling to compensate for settlement, for
a period of one year from the date of the certification of the proper
restoration of the street by the Construction Code Official, and such
person shall further assume all liability for damages resulting therefrom
or in any way connected therewith. In the event of the failure to
restore the street opening properly within the time set forth herein
after the opening has been made or to maintain the restored street
properly for a period of one year from the date of the aforesaid certificate
of proper restoration, the Construction Code Official, Superintendent
of Public Works or the Borough Engineer may, upon three days'
notice to the person receiving the permit, undertake or authorize
its agent to undertake the restoration or maintenance work. Expenses,
if any, incurred by the Borough for the maintenance and repair of
the replacement shall be deducted from the deposit posted by the permittee.
The following specifications shall govern trenching and backfill
to be placed in excavated trenches:
A. Edges of all excavation shall be cut in a straight line with a saw
or an approved pavement cutter. All excess material created as a result
of trenching shall be removed from the street and disposed of in accordance
with all applicable regulations regarding same. Where an excavation
is to extend the full width of the street, only half of the excavation
shall be made at one time and it shall be properly backfilled and
inspected, as herein provided, before the other half is excavated.
B. Backfill materials shall be dense graded aggregate or other material
as approved by the Construction Code Official, Superintendent of Public
Works or the Borough Engineer. Specifications for backfill materials
shall be in accordance with NJDOT Standard Specifications for Road
and Bridge Construction, 2019, or latest version, as amended. Certain
underground conduits, pipes, etc., which may require a sand cushion
adjacent to the structure for protective reasons, will be permitted
if indicated in the application and with approval of the Construction
Code Official, Superintendent of Public Works or the Borough Engineer.
Clay or heavy black loam shall not be used. The backfill is to be
placed in layers not exceeding 12 inches in thickness, moistened as
required, and each layer tamped until thoroughly compacted.
C. Except in the case of an emergency or special construction requirements,
all street openings and excavations shall be closed within 24 hours
by the permittee, and thereafter maintained in a safe condition for
vehicular traffic until the permanent surface has been restored. Each
permittee shall completely backfill the trench to the surface with
dense graded aggregate or other material as approved by the Construction
Code Official, Superintendent of Public Works or the Borough Engineer.
D. In the case of an emergency, a substituted closing may be constructed
as authorized by the Construction Code Official, Superintendent of
Public Works, or Borough Engineer.
E. Final backfill shall be installed up to six inches from the surface. Final backfill shall be dense graded aggregate or other material as approved by the Construction Code Official, Superintendent of Public Works or the Borough Engineer. The backfill is to be placed in layers not exceeding 12 inches in thickness, moistened as required, and each layer tamped until thoroughly compacted up to six inches from the surface. Final restoration above the final backfill shall be in accordance with §§
85-9 and
85-13G, as applicable.
F. In cases where it is necessary to resort to tunneling operations
to reach the point of connection with any main line, the backfill
in the tunnel, where required, shall be of bentonite or other acceptable
method as approved by the Borough Engineer.
G. The Construction Code Official, Superintendent of Public Works or
the Borough Engineer may impose special conditions in any special
case.
Upon completion of the opening and backfill, as specified, and
upon the Borough's being notified of the same, the following
specifications shall govern the maintenance and repair of street openings
and excavations:
A. Temporary restoration of pavement is to be made immediately after
the Construction Code Official, Superintendent of Public Works or
the Borough Engineer has inspected and approved the backfilling. The
temporary pavement shall consist of such material or materials as
may be designated by the Construction Code Official, Superintendent
of Public Works, or Borough Engineer, giving due consideration to
the surface material of the street involved. The permittee shall maintain
such temporary pavement in good repair so as to make the street safe
for traffic.
B. Permanent restoration of pavement shall be made within six months,
weather permitting, from the date the temporary pavement was installed,
but in no event later than one year from the estimated starting date
of the work involved in such street opening and excavation, and such
permanent restoration shall, as nearly as possible, duplicate the
original pavement in type, material and texture of surface. The Construction
Code Official shall be notified three days prior to permanent restoration
for quality control and Borough specification adherence.
The Construction Code Official and/or Zoning Officer is hereby
designated as the enforcement officer to enforce the provisions of
this chapter and is the agent acting for the Mayor and Council of
the Borough of Park Ridge in connection herewith.
The Department of Public Utilities of the Borough of Park Ridge
is exempt from the requirements of the payment of fees, the making
of cash deposits and the posting of bonds to ensure proper maintenance
under this chapter.
Any person, firm or corporation violating this chapter shall
be subject, upon conviction, to a fine of not more than $500 or to
imprisonment for not more than 90 days, or both, at the discretion
of the Judge imposing the same. No notice shall be required prior
to the issuance of a summons.