Section 17 AAC 15.171 - Utility accommodation on highways(a) The department may allow utility facilities to be located within the rights-of-way of highways.(b) Manholes for underground facilities must be located so that their maintenance may be accomplished with minimum interference to the use of the right-of-way.(c) Facilities installed within the department right-of-way must be designed and placed so that their use or occupancy will not adversely affect the safety, construction, maintenance, or operations of the highway or related structures.(d) The minimum distance between the nearest part of a surface-mounted utility facility and the edge of the traveled way must comply with the standards set out in the department's Highway Preconstruction Manual, adopted by reference in 17 AAC 15.301(e).(e) Facilities installed within a department right-of-way must(1) be located as near as practicable to the highway right-of-way line; and(2) comply with the standards set out in the Highway Preconstruction Manual, adopted by reference in 17 AAC 15.301(e).(f) A new facility crossing a highway right-of-way must be installed as nearly perpendicular to the highway centerline as is practicable.(g) An underground facility crossing of a highway must be installed by boring, coring, or jacking through the roadway prism. Wet-boring is prohibited. The department may allow trenched or open-cut construction where untrenched construction is not practical. An underground facility crossing in a department right-of-way must conform to the specifications set out in any special provisions of the utility permit.(h) If a utility locate service is not available, reference markers must be installed and maintained at both ends of an underground facility highway crossing, at angle points in the alignment of the underground facility, and at designated points along the longitudinal alignment as specified in any special provisions of the utility permit.(i) If the utility can demonstrate that adherence to the requirements of this section is impractical because of difficult topography, mountainous terrain, or other special conditions, the department may modify the requirements.Eff. 5/23/82, Register 82; am 10/2/87, Register 103; am 7/15/2009, Register 191The Highway Preconstruction Manual referred to in 17 AAC 15.171(d) and (e) is available for inspection at the Juneau, Anchorage, and Fairbanks regional offices of the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities. The Highway Preconstruction Manual also may be viewed through the department's Internet website at http://www.dot.state.ak.us/stwddes/dcsprecon/resources.shtml.
Authority:AS 19.05.020
AS 19.05.040
AS 19.20.010
AS 19.25.010
AS 19.25.200
AS 19.30.121
AS 19.40.065
AS 44.42.020
AS 44.42.030