No person shall dig up and excavate or make any opening in any street,
road, avenue, highway or right-of-way owned or under the jurisdiction of the
Township for any purpose whatsoever without having first obtained a written
permit therefor. Application for a permit shall be made to the Township Clerk.
Permits shall not be issued for a period in excess of three months and expired
permits may be renewed on written request. No permits will be issued between
November 15 and March 15 unless it is reviewed and recommended by the Township
Engineer.
The permittee shall keep the opening properly guarded and at night shall
have adequate and sufficient lights placed thereat. In doing the work, there
shall be as little interference as possible with travel along the road, and
no greater part of the road shall be opened at any time than shall be allowed
by the Township Engineer or other person in charge. Transverse openings, involving
the full width of the highway, shall be made so that only 1/2 of the highway
will be excavated at any one time. The work shall be scheduled and executed
so as to present a minimum of inconvenience to the traveling public. Where
feasible, pipes, mains and conduits shall be bored under all pavements. Tunnels
may be driven if and where directed.
The permittee shall hold the Township, its officers and servants harmless
from and against any loss, injury or damage resulting from any negligence
or fault of the permittee, his agents or servants.
In case the work has not been completed before expiration of the permit
and the permittee has not requested an extension of time, the Township Engineer
or other person in charge, may, if he deems it advisable, take steps to backfill
the trench and restore a permanent pavement over the opening for which the
permit has been issued. If any extension of time is needed for the completion
of the work, a new application must be filed if required by the Township Engineer.
The work shall be so conducted as not to interfere with any existing
water main, sewer, gas or telephone lines or to damage any existing trees
or roots until permission of the proper authorities has been obtained. All
rock within five feet of a water main or other pipe which will be damaged
shall be removed without blasting. No excavation which will damage trees shall
be made without the approval of the Township Engineer and the Shade Tree Commission.
The permittee shall completely backfill and puddle the excavation and
the trench with sand, gravel or other material, acceptably compressed as required,
and shall remove excess material from the premises. If tamping alone is employed,
the material shall be placed in layers not exceeding six inches in thickness,
moistened if directed, and each layer shall be mechanically tamped until thoroughly
compacted. Longitudinal ditches may be compacted by rolling with a suitable
heavy mechanical self-powered roller. Dual-tired trucks shall not be used
for this purpose. Trenches may not be flushed except under specific permission
of the Township Engineer. If, for any reason, immediate replacement of permanent
pavement is not feasible, the excavation shall be backfilled and consolidated
as specified above, after which not less than three inches bituminous stabilized
base course in accordance with New Jersey Department of Transportation Standard
Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction, as amended, and the New Jersey
Department of Transportation Supplemental Specifications for Roads and Bridge
Construction, as amended, shall be installed on a temporary pavement.
After backfilling of the trench has been completed, replacement of the
bituminous pavement shall be made by the permittee. Bituminous pavement replacement
shall consist of a minimum of six inches of bituminous stabilized base course
in accordance with the current New Jersey Department of Transportation Standard
Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction, as amended, and the New Jersey
Department of Transportation Supplemental Specifications for Roads and Bridge
Construction, as amended, surfaced with a minimum thickness of two inches
New Jersey Department of Transportation Specifications as stated herein.
All work performed in connection with the making of openings in the
public streets, roads and highways shall be done only under the immediate
supervision of the Township Engineer or his representatives, and the applicant
shall be responsible for obtaining the presence of the Township Engineer or
his representatives for such supervision at the site before the work may proceed.
All expenses and fees incurred in connection with supervision shall be charged
to and paid for by the applicant, and a certified check or cash payment to
cover these expenses and fees shall be paid by the applicant to the Township
Clerk before the permit is issued.
Every permittee shall fully comply with all rules, regulations and conditions,
and in addition to any other remedies available to the Township, the Township
shall have the right at any time to suspend or revoke any permit issued to
any permittee who has violated any rule, regulation or condition. Revocation
may be by written notice to that effect, served upon the foreman or other
person in charge of the work of the applicant. A hearing on any revocation
or suspension may be had before the Township Committee upon application for
same being made by the permittee, upon giving five days' notice to that effect,
and by serving a notice upon the Township Clerk.
Violations of the provisions of this article shall be punishable as provided in Chapter
1, Article
II, General Penalty.