Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1680, 1680-06, ch. 1680-06-01, 1680-6-1-.10, app 2
A POLICY ON THE ACCOMMODATION OF
UTILITIES WITHIN FREEWAY RIGHT-OF-WAY
Prepared by the
Standing Committee On Highways
Published by the
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF STATE
HIGHWAY AND TRANSPORTATION
OFFICIALS
444 North Capitol St., N.W.
of State Highway and Transportation Officials
Printed in the United States of America
__________________________________________________________________________________________
A Policy on the Accommodation of Utilities within Freeway Right-of-Way
INTRODUCTION
The Geometric Design Standards for the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways adopted by the American Association of State Highway Officials on July 12, 1956, and accepted by the Bureau of Public Roads on July 17, 1956, provide, in accordance with Section 109 of Title 23, U.S. Code, Highways, 1958, for control of access on all sections of the Interstate System. These provisions were established to provide for the maximum degree of safety and to preserve the traffic-carrying capacity, both of which are warranted by the large public fund investment in the facility. There are also other freeways with similar control of access features which are not part of the Interstate System.
Control of access can be materially affected by the extent and manner in which public utilities cross or otherwise occupy the highway right-of-way. The highway agencies have various degrees of authority to develop and maintain control of access and to regulate utilities, generally through their authority to designate and to control the use made of right-of-way acquired for public highways, including those of all freeways. Their authorities depend upon State laws or regulations. These laws and regulations differ in the several States and may be different in a State for highways utilizing existing right-of-way and for highways on new location for which right-of-way is to be acquired. A State may also have separate laws and regulations different from those applicable statewide, for highways on right-of-way subject to jurisdiction of a local government such as that of a large city.
In order to carry out the intent of Title 23, U.S. Code, a uniform policy is needed to establish the conditions under which public and private utilities may be accommodated on the freeway right-of-way. The following statements constitute such a policy. While the policy has as its primary purpose increasing and maintaining highway safety and function to the maximum and insuring uniformity of utility treatment among the States, it recognizes the public interest in avoiding unnecessary and costly operation of public utility organizations. The policy applies to all highways with full control of access, regardless of system. Also, it has value as a guide for all highways with partial control of access. The policy can be applied in most States by existing authority. Those States in which laws will not permit the application of this policy in its entirety should strive for uniformity through the enactment of appropriate legislation.
It is not the intent of this policy to impose restrictions on the future installations of utility crossings to the extent that would obstruct the development of expanding areas adjacent to the freeways.
This policy makes no reference to reimbursement to utility owners for the cost of adjusting or installing utilities on free. ways. Reimbursement is subject to State laws.
It is the intent of this policy to establish procedures whereby the individual State highway authorities may uniformly administer the same.
STATEMENT OF POLICY
The principles set forth in this policy apply to all public and Private utilities including power transmission, telephone, telegraph, water, gas, oil, petroleum products, steam, sewer, drainage, irrigation, and similar lines. Such utilities may involve construction and maintenance of underground, surface or overhead facilities, either singly or in combination.
This policy shall apply to utilities located on right-of-way owned or leased by the utility owners and to utilities on public highway rights-of-way.
This policy does not apply to utility lines for servicing facilities required for operating the freeway,
New utilities will not be permitted to be installed longitudinally within the control of access lines of any freeway, except that in special cases such installations may be permitted under strictly controlled conditions. However, in each such case the utility owner must show that:
Where an utility already exists within the proposed right-of-way of a freeway and it can be serviced, maintained and operated without access from the through traffic roadways or ramps, it may remain as long as it does not adversely affect the safety, design, construction, operation, maintenance or stability of the freeway. Otherwise, it must be relocated.
Where a freeway crosses a major valley or river on an existing structure, any utility carried by said structure at the time the highway route is improved may continue to be so carried when relocation of the utility would be very costly and provided the utility can be serviced without interference with road users.
Expansion of a utility carried by an existing structure across a major valley or river may be permitted provided the utility can be installed and serviced without interference with road users.
A new utility will not be permitted to be installed on a structure across a major valley or river at and after the time the highway route is improved, except for special cases as covered by Item 2,
New utility installations and adjustments or relocations of existing utilities may be permitted to cross a freeway. To the extent feasible and practicable they should cross on a line generally normal to the freeway alignment and preferably under the freeway.
5(A) Utilities Along Roads or Streets Crossing Freeways
Where a utility follows a crossroad or street which is carried over or under a freeway, provision should be made for the utility to cross the freeway on the locations of the crossroad or street in such manner that the utility can be serviced without access from the through-traffic roadways or ramps. Generally the utilities are to be located within the right-of-way of the crossroad or street, existing or relocated, and may cross over or under the freeway or be carried on or through the highway grade separation structure, provided installation and servicing thereof can be accomplished without access from the through-traffic roadways or ramps. Where distinct advantage and appreciable cost saving is effected by locating the utilities outside the right-of-way of the crossroad or street they may be so located, in which case they shall be located and treated in the same manner as utility lines crossing the freeway at points removed from grade separation structures as in (B) and (C) which follow.
5(B) Overhead Utility Crossings
Overhead utility lines crossing a freeway at points removed from grade separation structures, or those crossing near a grade separation but not within the right-of-way of a crossroad or street, in general, should be adjusted so that supporting structures are located outside the outer edges of through-traffic roadway side slopes and preferably outside the control access lines. In any case supporting poles shall not be placed within the appropriate clear zone as designated in the current edition of the AASHTO publication "Guide for Selecting, Locating and Designing Traffic Barriers." Supporting poles may be placed in medians of sufficient width to provide the above referenced clear zone from the edges of both roadways. If additional lanes are planned, the clear zone shall be determined from the ultimate edges of the roadway. Where right-of-way lines and control of access lines are not one and the same, as where frontage roads are provided, supporting poles may be located in the area between them. In extraordinary cases where such spanning of the roadways is not feasible, consideration may be given to conversion to underground facilities to cross the freeway.
At interchange areas, in general, support for overhead utilities should be permitted only where all of the following conditions are met:
The vertical clearance to overhead utility lines crossing freeways shall be determined by the State but in no case shall be less than the clearance required by the National Electrical Safety Code, ANSI C2, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.
5(C) Underground Utility Crossings
Utilities crossing underground below the freeways shall be of durable materials and so installed as to virtually preclude any necessity for disturbing the roadways to perform maintenance or expansion operations. The design and types of materials shall conform with appropriate governmental codes and specifications.
Manholes and other points of access to underground utilities may be permitted within the right-of-way of a freeway only when they are located beyond the shoulders of the through-traffic roadways or ramps as planned for later widening, if any, and only where they can be serviced or maintained without access from the through-traffic roadways or ramps.
5(D) Irrigation Ditches and Water Canals
Except for necessary crossings, water canals and irrigation ditches should be excluded from the right-of-way of freeways, except for special cases as covered by Item 2. Crossings may be made by underground siphon, or through culverts, or bridges as appropriate to the size of canal, topographic conditions, and highway safety aspects. In general, locations and structures are to be designed in the same manner as are facilities for natural transverse drainage.
All access and egress for servicing or patrolling such facilities shall be from outside the control of access' lines. Ditch-walkers or ditch-riders shall not be permitted to indiscriminately cross the freeway at grade. Under appropriate traffic control arrangements, special ditch cleaning equipment may be permitted to cross in those cases where considerable extra travel distance would otherwise be required to utilize grade separation structures.
5(E) Provisions for Expansion of Utilities
When existing utilities are relocated or adjusted in conjunction with construction of a freeway, provision may be made for known and planned expansion of the utility facilities, particularly those underground. They should be planned to avoid interference with traffic at some future date when additional or new overhead or underground lines are installed.
As a general rule utilities will not be permitted to occupy vehicular tunnels on freeways on new location, except in special cases as covered by Item 2.
Utilities which transport a hazardous material shall not be allowed in a vehicular tunnel under any circumstances.
Where a utility occupies space in an existing vehicular tunnel that is converted to a freeway, relocation of the utility may not be required. Utilities which have not previously occupied an existing vehicular tunnel that is incorporated in a freeway will not be permitted therein, except in special cases as covered by Item 2.
Access for Servicing a utility along or across a freeway should be limited to access via (a) frontage roads where provided, (b) nearby or adjacent public roads and streets, or (c) trails along or near the highway right-of-way lines, connecting only to an intersecting road, from any one or all of which entry may be made to the outer portion of the freeway right-of-way.
In those special cases, where utility supports, manholes, or other appurtenances are located in medians or interchange areas, access to them from through-traffic roadways or ramps may be permitted but only by permits issued by the highway agency to the utility owner setting forth the conditions for policing and other controls to protect highway users.
Where utilities are located outside the control of access line and where such utilities may require maintenance from within the freeway right-of-way, a permit must be obtained from the highway agency.
Advance arrangements should also be made between the utility and the highway agency for emergency maintenance procedures.
The highway agency which constructs or maintains freeways has the right to review and approve the location and design of all utility installations and adjustments affecting the highway and issue permits for the contemplated work.
In general, utility installation and adjustments are to be made with due consideration to highway and utility costs and in a manner that will provide maximum safety to the highway users, will cause the least possible interference with the highway facility and its operation, and will not increase the difficulty of or cost of maintenance of the highway.
Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1680, 1680-06, ch. 1680-06-01, 1680-6-1-.10, app 2