N.H. Admin. Code § Tra 502.09

Current through Register No. 50, December 12, 2024

Section Tra 502.09 - Design and Review; Municipally-Managed Projects

(a) Design of a municipally-managed project may be performed by a consultant, provided the consultant is qualified under RSA 21-I:22 and listed by the department in accordance with the qualifications-based selection procedures.

(b) If the department determines that a proposed project is:

(1) Simple in its scope, including, but not limited to, the resurfacing of a road or the replacement of a culvert, a municipality shall not be required to provide to the department an engineering study, preliminary plans, and final plans for the proposed project; or

(2) More complex that the type of project described in (1) above, including, but not limited to the reconstruction of a road, the widening of a road, the rebuilding of an intersection, or the addition of turning lanes, a municipality shall provide an engineering study, preliminary plans, and final plans for the proposed project to the department for review.

(c) The engineering study shall contain the following elements:

(1) A description of existing conditions, including:

a. Geometry and cross section of the existing highway;

b. Alignment of any intersections on the highway; and

c. Any significant geometric or topographical conditions;

(2) A list of the relevant design criteria and manuals to be used;

(3) A description of the methodology and reasoning used to develop alternative alignments or treatments for the proposed highway improvement, including:

a. Horizontal and vertical curves;

b. Travel way and shoulder widths;

c. Effects upon environmentally sensitive areas, such as wetlands;

d. Effects upon utilities;

e. Effects upon any existing structures;

f. Effects upon private property; and

g. The recommendation of the responsible professional engineer as to which alternative alignment or treatment should be advanced;

(4) The number and content of any boring logs taken, if deemed necessary by the responsible professional engineer, to present a reasonably accurate picture of subsurface conditions at the site;

(5) A description of the drainage issues and methodology of addressing the drainage issues present at the site;

(6) An itemized cost estimate for the proposed highway construction or reconstruction, consistent with the standard specifications, item names, and definitions published in the New Hampshire Department of Transportation Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction (2010);

(7) A description of the environmental resources that may be affected by each of the alternatives considered, including:

a. Natural resources protected by state or federal environmental protection laws; and

b. Cultural, historical, social, and economic resources protected by state or federal laws; and

(8) A description of meeting(s) held with the New Hampshire division of historical resources in order to identify potential historical or archeological concerns that should be investigated to determine the possible impact of the project on cultural resources.

(d) The preliminary plans shall contain the following elements:

(1) A front sheet with location map and layout;

(2) A typical section of improvement;

(3) General construction plans, including pavement marking, drainage, and utility relocations;

(4) A signalization plan, if needed;

(5) Documentation of the drainage design;

(6) Erosion control measures;

(7) Right-of-way acquisition plan sheets;

(8) Profiles of all roadways affected by the project;

(9) Boring locations and logs, if available;

(10) A description and implementation plan for work and traffic control;

(11) Cross-sections of the project; and

(12) Any other condition that, in the opinion of the presenting engineer, is worthy of note to the reviewing engineer.

(e) The department shall review the engineering study and preliminary plans. Following receipt of the department's comments on the engineering study and preliminary plans, the municipality shall submit final design plans and an updated cost estimate to the department for review and approval. After approval of the final design plans and cost estimate by the department, the municipality shall prepare contract plans, specifications, and a contract proposal.

(f) Contract plans, specifications, and proposals shall bear the licensed professional engineer stamp of the professional engineer who prepared the plans and contract proposal, or under whose direct supervisory authority the plans and contract proposal were prepared.

N.H. Admin. Code § Tra 502.09

#8924, eff 6-27-07

Amended by Volume XXXVI Number 10, Filed March 10, 2016, Proposed by #11037, Effective 2/22/2016, Expires 2/22/2026.