27 CAR § 91-302 – Longitudinal installations

(a) Underground utilities installed parallel to the pavement should be installed at or adjacent to the right-of-way to minimize interference with highway operations.
(b)
1. (1) Underground utilities, such as power cable, telephone cable, water, sewer, and gas shall be installed within the outer ten feet (10’) of the right-of-way.
2. (2) Placement of utility lines more than ten feet (10’) from the right-of-way line may be considered upon recommendation by the District Engineer based on extenuating conditions and approval by the Right of Way Division Head.
3. (3) However, longitudinal installations shall not be within the clear zone or ditch lines of the roadway.
(c) Longitudinal utilities shall be located on uniform alignment as near as practicable to the right-of-way line and/or parallel with utility lines and outside the clear zone.
(d) Longitudinal utilities shall have a minimum depth of cover of thirty inches (30”) measured vertically over the utility line.
(e)
1. (1) Longitudinal utilities may be installed by:
  1. (A) Trenching;
  2. (B) Plowing; or
  3. (C) Boring.
2. (2) Joint trenching or plowing of underground facilities is encouraged.
(f)
1. (1) Trenches normally should have vertical sides where soil and depth conditions permit and should have a maximum width of the outside diameter of the line, pipe, or conduit plus two feet (2’).
2. (2) Adequate measures must be taken to prevent cave-ins.
(g) Backfill shall be compacted to densities equal to that of the surrounding soil.
(h)
1. (1) Grade on all highway drainage ditches must be maintained, and erosion control provided where necessary, as specified on the plans or as required by the District Engineer.
2. (2) Aggregate, sod, or surfacing shall be replaced or restored to its original or equivalent condition to the satisfaction of the department.
(i) On partially controlled access highways, individual service connections will not be permitted unless no other reasonable alternatives exist.
(j) On fully controlled access highways, longitudinal installations shall not be permitted with the exception of fiber optic telecommunication lines installed under a shared resource agreement.
(k) Markers bearing the name of the utility owner must be placed at the right-of-way line at no greater than one-thousand-foot intervals for the full length of the installation.