La. Admin. Code tit. 70 § II-517

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

Section II-517 - Additional Standards Applicable to the Installation of Utilities on Interstate Highways and Freeways

A. General. All applicable general considerations, specific policies and conditions, and general standards shall apply, in addition to those listed in this Section. This Section shall be the DOTD's compliance with 23 CFR 713 Subpart B, the accommodation policy for controlled access areas.

B. Access. Access for installation and for future service and maintenance of utilities, and all work performed in connection therewith, must be effected from the frontage road or from some point other than through lanes and ramps except where specifically waived by the permit or agreement. No interference with traffic on through lanes or ramps will be tolerated.

C. Parallel Utilities

1. Utilities parallel to the centerline of the highway shall not be permitted within highway right-of-way except in instances where the right-of-way and controls of access do not coincide, such as where frontage roads are constructed along and outside controls of access or where the control of access is located on the facia of bridge structures.

2. In such instances subsurface and aerial utility distribution facilities may be installed inside and as near to the highway right-of-way line as possible in accordance with standards for such facilities listed elsewhere in this Chapter.

D. Utility Crossings

1. All subsurface installations in which casing is used are to be encased from control of access line to control of access line and properly vented except as follows:

a. in instances where a street, road, or another highway is overpassed by the interstate highway;

b. where the subsurface utility is parallel to and between the street, road, or other highway and the overpass embankment; and

c. where access may be had to the utility without conflicting with the control of access, no encasement will be required except under ground-level ramps where normal encasement standards would apply.

2. Aerial crossing shall completely span the highway right-of-way and poles, supports, guys, etc., shall be beyond the limits of said right-of-way except as follows:

a. in instances where a street, road, or another highway is overpassed by the interstate highway and where access may be had to the aerial utility and supporting structures within and parallel to the street, road, or other highway without conflicting with the control of access;

b. in instances where control of access is not coincidental with right-of-way lines, such as where frontage roads are present or where controls of access are located on the facias of bridge structures, supporting structures may be placed within and as near right-of-way lines as conditions will permit;

c. in cases of undue hardship which can be justified to the satisfaction of the DOTD and Federal Highway Administration.

3. Untrenched construction shall be required for all pipeline crossings of existing freeways and other major controlled-access highways. The untrenched construction shall extend under and across the entire control of access. Waiver of this policy will be made only under unusual circumstances, require proper justification by the utility, and work performed under rigidly controlled conditions.

4. Repairs within control of access areas will not be permitted.

La. Admin. Code tit. 70, § II-517

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.