Section 105 IAC 16-1-13 - Requirements for installation of handholesAuthority: IC 8-23-2-6; IC 8-23-5-10
Affected: IC 8-23-5-10
Sec. 13.
(a) Handholes shall be installed in accordance with the approved permit plans and specifications. Handhole covers shall be bolted into place with stainless steel bolts and washers. The cover frame shall be installed in the handhole with a butyl rubber sealant in tape/coil form for a proper seal between the handhole and frame to prevent it from moving out of place. The sealant shall comply with ASTM C990 for butyl rubber sealants.(b) The cover for the handhole shall be marked with logo imprints of, "INDOT F/O Conduit Bank" horizontally across the cover.(c) Handholes shall be located outside of sidewalks, trails, roadways, and shoulders.(d) The handholes shall provide sufficient strength to withstand external design pressures including super imposed loads of soil, roadway, traffic and construction equipment.(e) A readily identifiable and suitable marker shall be placed immediately above any underground communication lines where it crosses the right-of-way line.(f) Handholes shall be located a minimum of three (3) feet off the edge of right-of-away [sic, the right-of-way] unless the handhole is to be installed in the utility strip along a curb and gutter roadway. If the handhole is in such a way as to permit a vehicle or piece of maintenance equipment to drive over the lid, it must be traffic rated.(g) Handholes shall not be in the ditch line or under sidewalks, trails or pavement areas.(h) Handholes may be buried in the department's right-of-way provided a programmable electronic marker system which includes the company name, date of installation, elevation and depth.(i) All construction and maintenance operations shall be planned to minimize closure of intersecting streets, road approaches, traffic lanes, or other access points. No construction operations, which interfere with traffic, shall be allowed during periods of peak traffic flow. In accordance with the INDOT Design Manual, Chapter 503* as effective January 1, 2013, a traffic control plan must be prepared and submitted with the permit application.(j) The work site must be secure against any safety hazard to the public at all times until all work is completed. All pipe, conduit, wire, poles, cross arms or other materials located within the right-of-way prior to installation shall be placed outside of any ditches and at least thirty (30) feet beyond the edge of the traveled way or behind existing guard rails. The department may require construction or maintenance operations on the department's right-of-way to be discontinued during periods of inclement weather or when soil conditions are such that the work would result in extensive damage to the right-of-way or create an unsafe traveling condition.(k) The operator must make every effort to minimize the areas disturbed by the work conducted. The operator must restore in a timely manner those areas disturbed to its original or better condition prior to the work conducted. Restoration of disturbed areas shall be in accordance with the requirements of the approved work plan and the terms and conditions of the permit.(l) The operator must maintain existing drainage patterns during the installation, maintenance or removal of their facilities. Trenches and bore pits for underground facility installations shall be backfilled. Outlets or under drains shall be installed as needed to avoid entrapped water.(m) The operator must contact the Indiana Underground Plant Protection Service two (2) days prior to any excavation or survey so that underground utilities may be located and marked.(n) All facilities shall be maintained in good repair both structurally and aesthetically.(o) A permit is required for the trimming, cutting, spraying or removal of trees, shrubs or other vegetation located within the right-of-way and such activities shall not occur without the specific written permission of the department. Tree removal includes removing the stump and backfilling the hole. All debris, refuse and waste shall be removed from the right-of-way. (1) The work shall consist of clearing, grubbing, removal and disposal of all vegetation and debris within the construction limits as shown on the plans, except objects that are designated to remain or are to be removed. If no construction limits are shown, the right-of-way and easement areas will be the construction limits. Work shall include the preservation from injury or defacement of all vegetation and objects designated to remain.(2) Trees, shrubs, plants, seeded or sodded shoulders, slopes or other items to remain shall be designated and preserved. All areas outside the construction limits shall remain in their original condition. All damage to natural terrain, vegetation, objects designated to remain, or areas outside the construction limits which have subsequently eroded or been damaged shall be repaired to its original or better condition or shall be replaced.(p) The applicant shall obtain all required environmental permits to support the installation or relocation of its facilities. The applicant must implement erosion control, sediment control, and storm water management measures in accordance with the Indiana Storm Water Management Field Guide* as effective January 1, 2018, and the Indiana Design Manual Chapter 205* as effective January 1, 2013. Such measures shall be implemented both during and after work operations until replacement vegetation is established or until the area is disturbed by another party.(q) In the event of an emergency which requires access to the site not covered under an issued permit, notice shall be given telephonically to the department at 1-855-463-6848 within one (1) hour of accessing the site. If a live departmental employee is not available, a telephonic or voicemail message will be sufficient notice. Within five (5) business days of the emergency, operator shall submit a permit application for the work performed and for any work yet to be completed within the site. The operator shall ensure all proper maintenance of traffic controls are followed.(r) Prior to entering the site, the operator shall apply for a broadband access permit each time it enters the site, including routine maintenance, construction and repair activities. *These documents are hereby incorporated by reference. Copies of the Design Manual can be found at https://www.in.gov/dot. Copies of the Design Manual and the Indiana Storm Water Management Field Guide or [sic] may be obtained at the Indiana Department of Transportation, 100 North Senate Avenue, Room N730, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204.
Indiana Department of Transportation; 105 IAC 16-1-13; emergency rule filed 12/16/2021, 12:43 p.m.: 20211222-IR-105210537ERA, eff Jan 1, 2022