La. Admin. Code tit. 70 § II-511

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 11, November 20, 2024

Section II-511 - General Considerations

A. The following shall govern the location and design of all utility installations within highway right-of-way.

1. Location

a. Utility lines shall be located to minimize need for later adjustment to accommodate future highway improvements and to permit installation and servicing such lines with minimum interference to highway traffic.

b. Parallel installation shall be located on a uniform alignment as near as practicable to the right-of-way line so as to provide a safe environment for traffic operations and preserve space for future highway improvements or other utility installations.

c. To the extent feasible and practicable, utility line crossings of the highway will cross on a line generally normal (90°) to the highway alignment.

d. The horizontal and vertical location of utility lines within the highway right-of-way limits will conform with the clear roadside policies applicable for the system, type of highway and specific conditions for the particular highway section involved. The location of above-ground utility facilities will be consistent with the clearances applicable to all roadside obstacles for the type of highway involved.

e. In planning utility installations or relocations just outside highway right-of-way, consideration should be given by the utility to avoid placement of facilities within one foot immediately adjacent to and outside the right-of-way to avoid damages by the DOTD's contractor in relocating property owners' fences 1 foot beyond such right-of-way in compliance with DOTD policy on construction projects.

f. In all cases, full consideration will be given to measures reflecting sound engineering principles and economic factors, necessary to preserve and protect the integrity and visual quality of the highway, its maintenance efficiency and the safety of highway traffic.

2. Design

a. The utility is responsible for the design of the utility facility to be installed within the highway right-of-way. The DOTD is responsible for review proposal with respect to the location of the utility facilities to be installed. This includes the measures to be taken to preserve the safe and free flow of traffic, structural integrity of the roadway or highway structure, ease of highway maintenance, appearance of the highway and the integrity of the utility facility.

b. Utility installations on, over or under the right-of-way of state highways shall as a minimum, meet the following requirements.

i. Electric power and communication facilities shall conform with the current applicable National Electric Safety Code. However, in no instance should an aerial crossing have less vertical clearance over the roadway surface than 20 feet. A minimum vertical clearance of 16 feet shall be maintained between existing ground elevation and any aerial installation when such installation is within highway right-of-way, but does not cross the traveled surface of a highway.

ii. Water lines shall conform with the currently applicable specifications of the American Water Works Association.

iii. Pressure pipe lines shall conform with D.O.T. Title 49 and the currently applicable sections of ANSI/ASME Code for Pressure Piping of the American National Standards Institute and applicable industry codes, including Power Piping, ANSI B31.0, Petroleum Refinery Piping, ANSI B31.3, Liquid Petroleum Transportation Piping Systems, ANSI B31.4, Gas Transmission and Distribution Piping Systems, ANSI B31.8.

iv. Liquid petroleum pipelines shall conform with D.O.T. Title 49, ANSI/ASME Code, and the currently applicable recommended practice of the American Petroleum Institute for pipeline crossings under railroads and highways.

v. Overhead or underground structures (i.e., pedestrian walkway, cattle chute, pipe rack, utility bridge, etc.) crossing the highway shall conform with E.D.S.M. IV.2.1.7. All aerial installations must maintain a minimum vertical clearance of 20 feet over the surface of the highway. Foundations and supports shall be outside the highway right-of-way.

vi. Where standards of the DOTD exceed those of the above cited codes, the standards of the DOTD shall apply.

c. Ground-mounted utility facilities shall be of a design compatible with the visual quality of the specific highway section being traversed.

d. All utility installations on, over or under highway right-of-way shall be of durable materials designed for long-service life expectancy and relatively free from routine servicing and maintenance.

e. On new installations or adjustments of existing utility lines, provision should be made for known or planned expansion of the utility facility and for future improvement of the highway, particularly those located underground. They shall be planned so as to minimize hazards and interference with highway traffic when additional overhead or underground lines are installed at some future date.

La. Admin. Code tit. 70, § II-511

Promulgated by the Department of Transportation and Development, Utility and Permit Section, LR 20:317 (March 1994).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 48:381-382, 48:193.