N.M. Admin. Code § 17.4.2.7

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 24, December 23, 2024

Section 17.4.2.7 - DEFINITIONS

A. AASHTO -- American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.

B. Access control -- The condition where access rights of owners or occupants of abutting land adjacent to highways are fully or partially controlled or limited by public authority, with no right to obtain a driveway permit.

C. Aerial facilities -- Pole mounted utility lines or other above ground structures for the transmission or distribution of electric power, communications, traffic control lights and street lighting.

D. Agreement -- Pertains to the New Mexico State Highway and Transportation Department standard form Utility Relocation Agreement or other specifically written agreements pertaining to the relocation of utilities in conflict with highway construction, but not limited only for these purposes.

E. Archaeological clearance -- Legally required documented finding and/or field investigation procedure to insure the protection of known and unknown cultural/historic sites. It must be performed prior to any construction excavation, subsurface clearing or ground surface disturbance in connection with highway construction projects, or the accommodation of utilities or other facilities within public highway right-of-way.

F. Average daily traffic -- The average 24 hour vehicular traffic volume, derived from the total volume divided by the number of days in a one year (usually) period. Commonly abbreviated as ADT.

G. Backfill -- Placement and compaction of material around and/or over a structure such as a pipe, conduit, casing or gallery.

H. Barrier -- A device which provides a physical limitation through which a vehicle could not normally pass. It is intended to contain or redirect the movement of an errant vehicle away from roadside or median obstacles, ravines, ditches, etc.

I. Bored or boring -- A construction procedure for pushing or jacking a pipe or conduit under the highway, without disturbance to the highway structure or prism.

J. Breakaway -- A design feature which allows a device such as a utility pole, sign post, luminaire, or traffic signal support to yield or separate upon impact. The release mechanism may be slip plains, planes hinges, fracture elements, or a combination thereof.

K. Cap -- Rigid structural element surmounting a pipe, conduit, casing or gallery.

L. Carrier -- Pipe that directly contains a transmitted fluid (liquid or gas).

M. Casing -- A larger pipe enclosing a smaller pipe.

N. Catch point -- The point on the undisturbed ground surface where highway backslopes and foreslopes terminate after being cut or filled by construction equipment; usually established by a slope stake.

O. CBC -- Concrete Box Culvert.

P. Clear roadside area or clear zone -- That roadside border area, starting at the edge of the traveled way, available for use by errant vehicles, wherein no fixed obstruction or above ground utility facility may be placed unless protected by a barrier, or by incorporating a Department approved breakaway feature.

Q. CMC -- Corrugated Metal Culvert.

R. CME -- Construction and Maintenance Easement; document providing for use of non-Department owned land on which to construct and maintain permanent facilities.

S. Coating -- Protective material applied to, or wrapped around a pipe.

T. Communication Facilities -- Includes, but not limited to, telephone, telegraph, TV cable, microwave and fiberoptics.

U. Compaction -- A measure of the density of soil, achieved by mechanical means on highway surfaces and on backfill in trenches to harden the material to a predetermined density. Density is the soil weight maximum, in a measured (Modified Proctor Method "C" T-99) volume, with a pre-determined water content, plus a uniform compaction effort.

V. Condemnation -- The process by which private property is acquired for public purposes through legal proceedings, under the power of eminent domain.

W. Conductor -- Various types of electrical wire used for the transmission and distribution of electricity.

X. Conduit or Duct -- An enclosed tubular runway for protecting wires or cables.

Y. Control number or CN -- Four digit number assigned to specific highway projects and used for identification and tracking purposes.

Z. Cost of relocation -- The entire amount properly attributable to relocation of a utility facility after deducting therefrom the value of any betterment of the new facility and any salvage value derived from the old facility.

AA. Cover -- Depth to the top of a pipe, conduit, casing or gallery below the ground surface.

AB. Cradle -- Supporting structural element below a pipe.

AC. Cultural resource study and clearance -- To determine the impact of construction to any known or unknown cultural/historic sites; see Archaeological Clearance.

AD. Density -- Compaction of soil by mechanical means on highway surfaces and for backfill in trenches to harden the fill material to a predetermined density. Density is the soil weight maximum, in a measured volume, with a pre-determined water content, plus a uniform compaction effort.

AE. Department -- The New Mexico State Highway and Transportation Department, sometimes identified herein as NMSHTD, State Highway Department, State, and Highway Agency.

AF. Direct burial -- Installing a utility facility underground without trenching separately, i.e., plowing. A method usually used for installing flexible cable.

AG. Distribution lines -- Intermediate utility lines or arterials that supply natural gas, steam, electricity, telephone communications, water and TV cable services to local customers. These systems do not include the service connections.

AH. District engineer -- The engineer in charge of one of the Department's six construction and maintenance districts.

AI. Drain -- Appurtenance to discharge liquid contaminants from casings.

AJ. Drop inlet (D.I.) -- An underground storm water collector with surface grating at curbside, in medians or at other locations in and around highways and streets. It connects to storm water trunk lines usually running parallel to the highway.

AK. Easement -- The document that grants the right to use land (usually in corridors or strips) owned by others, and that defines the conditions of such use.

AL. Eminent domain -- The right of government, utilities and other public entities to take land for public use (upon the payment of just compensation) from land owners unwilling to sell the land after a negotiation for purchase has failed.

AM. Encasement -- A structural element surrounding a pipe. See Casing.

AN. Encroachment -- Unauthorized and illegal use of highway right-of-way or other lands owned or administered by the Department, State or other Public Agencies.

AO. Engineer -- Secretary of New Mexico State Highway and Transportation Department. Identified in the past as State Highway Engineer and Chief Highway Administrator, acting directly or through his/her designee.

AP. Entrance ramp -- A one-direction vehicular traffic lane for entering freeways, access controlled highways, and other highways at interchanges and at other authorized locations.

AQ. Environmental impact statement (EIS) -- A study that determines the total impact of any proposed construction on the environmental system, and the proposed action to mitigate the anticipated impacts.

AR. Exit ramp -- A one-direction vehicular traffic lane for exiting a freeway or controlled access highway, and other highways at interchanges and at other authorized locations.

AS. Expressway -- A divided arterial highway for through traffic with full or partial control of access, generally with grade separations (bridges) at major interSections.

AT. Field design inspection -- The Department's initial highway project inspection to insure agreement on design items and to furnish any additional design criteria.

AU. Federal-aid highways -- All roads constructed in whole or in part with federal aid.

AV. FHWA Federal Highway Administration.

AW. Flexible pipe -- A plastic, fiberglass, or metallic pipe having a large ratio of diameter to wall thickness that can be deformed without undue stress.

AX. Frangible -- A structure readily or easily broken upon impact.

AY. Freeway -- An expressway with full control of access.

AZ. Frontage road -- A local street or road auxiliary to, and located on the side of, an arterial highway for service to abutting property, adjacent areas, and to aid in maintaining access control of the adjoining arterial highway.

BA. Force account -- A daily record of expenditures. Records construction labor, materials, equipment usage, transportation costs and other costs such as commercial travel, per diem and other legitimate administrative costs incidental to utility relocation construction work performed by a utility with their own personnel, at actual costs incurred, without profit.

BB. Gallery -- An underpass (Concrete Box Culvert, or the like) for numerous utility lines, cables or pipes crossing beneath or running parallel under a street, highway or road.

BC. Grade & drain inspection -- The Department's highway project inspection to establish the final grade line, drainage design and review of the overall project design.

BD. Grade separation structure -- A highway, railroad or other type bridge, underpass or large culvert.

BE. Grounded -- Connected to earth or to some extended conducting body which serves as a conductor instead of the earth, whether the ground connection is intentional or accidental. Usually pertains to an electrical ground.

BF. Grout -- A cement mortar or a slurry of fine sand or clay.

BG. HA -- Highway Agency or State Highway Agency (SHA) or other named State Highway Organizations.

BH. Highway, street or road -- A general term denoting a public way for the purpose of vehicular and other modes of travel. The names usually apply to the entire area within the right-of-way limits.

BI. Hot work -- Work by field electricians on an electrical system that is energized and dangerous.

BJ. I-Project -- Interstate Highway Project.

BK. Inlet -- The graded and contoured approach to a storm water drainage system or culvert. The entrance through a drop inlet to a buried storm water pipeline drainage system.

BL. Insert -- A steel or cast iron cylinder with a female threaded hole in one end. These cylinders are installed in the concrete deck bottom of a bridge to suspend a threaded rod and suspension saddle to support pipelines and other conduits permitted on the bridge crossing.

BM. Jacket -- Encasement by concrete poured around a pipe.

BN. Joint use agreement -- An Agreement between the Department and a utility owner that provides for one future utility relocation and replacement right-of-way payment when a utility facility that occupies a private easement (corridor or strip of land) is taken for new highway right-of-way but no utility relocation is immediately necessary. The utility remains in place since there is no conflict with the highway features.

BO. Longitudinal barrier -- A barrier primarily to prevent penetration and safely redirect errant vehicles away from a roadside or median hazards, such as above ground utility structures.

BP. Longitudinal installation -- A utility facility or system located within or out of the right-of-way limits of a highway, where the facility runs parallel to the highway.

BQ. MUTCD -- Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. The standard highway, street or road traffic marking and signing directive implemented by the U.S. Department of Transportation, for standard use throughout the United States.

BR. Manhole -- An opening to an underground utility that allows workmen to enter, repair and inspect the system.

BS. Median -- The portion of a divided highway separating the opposing traffic lanes.

BT. Natural ground -- Undisturbed ground not affected by construction or other disturbing factors.

BU. Normal -- Crossing at a right angle (90 degrees).

BV. Oblique -- Crossing at an acute angle.

BW. Outlet -- Downstream channel beyond the end of a drainage pipe or the end of the pipe itself.

BX. P& PSheets -- Construction plan and profile sheets.

BY. PS & E review -- Final plans, specifications and estimate reviews by the Department, just before letting a highway project to contract.

BZ. Partial control of access -- The condition where access rights of owners or occupants of abutting land adjacent to highways are partially controlled or limited by the public authorities.

CA. Pavement structure -- The combination of subbase, base course and surface course placed on a highway, street or road subgrade to support the traffic load.

CB. Permit -- Department document that provides for the occupancy of public right-of-way by utilities, entitled New Mexico Public Highway Utility Accommodation Permit, also called a use and occupancy agreement, in the references.

CC. Pipe -- A tubular steel, cast iron, concrete, plastic or other material product designed for the transmission of liquid or gaseous substances.

CD. Plan in hand inspection -- The Department's final field inspection to review the completed highway project plans.

CE. Plowing -- See, Direct Burial.

CF. Police power -- The right of government to legislate, regulate and limit the rights of individuals, corporations, companies and others when prompt and prudent action is necessary for the public good, health, safety or welfare. Its application to utility/highway relations is that certain New Mexico statutes provide the Department with specifically defined enforcement powers for utility relocation performance so that highway construction work can be completed without delay and with minimum legal conflict.

CG. Private utility -- A system owned by an individual, corporation, company or others not devoted to public service but for private use to deliver, transmit electricity, communications, natural gas, water or sewage disposal in a closed, private or confined area, such as an industrial site, mine, ranch, mobile home park or other remote location. The utility product(s) can be generated by the private owner or purchased from others (for example, a public utility) for delivery within the private entity.

CH.Public highway -- Any federal, state, county or city highway, street, road or other public way devoted to vehicular and other modes of travel including the entire area within the right-of-way.

CI. Questionnaire -- Utility Relocation Questionnaire. A Department standard form a utility owner uses to provide pertinent information concerning their eligibility to be reimbursed, construction method to be used, right-of-way ownership, and other information needed by the Department.

CJ. Reimbursement -- For the purposes of this regulation, shall mean payment by the Department for eligible costs properly attributable to the highway construction, pursuant to State and Federal regulations.

CK. Relocation -- Means and includes any horizontal or vertical movement of utility facilities intact and any protective measures taken or, where found by the Department to be necessary, the construction of new or additional facilities (with or without contemporaneous removal and salvage of old facilities) in this state, including, in any case, adjustment or protection of connecting off-highway utility lines to the extent necessary.

CL. Right-of-way, R/W or R.O.W. -- A general term or abbreviations for right-of-way, denoting land, property or interest therein; usually referring to a strip or corridor acquired for transportation or utility purposes.

CM. Roadside -- A general term denoting the area adjoining the outer edge of the roadway but within the right-of-way. Extensive areas between lanes of a divided highway may also be considered roadside.

CN. Roadway prism -- A road bed Section from toe of slope to toe of slope, or borrow ditch bottom, that includes the compacted subgrade, subbase and the paved surface of the highway.

CO. Scenic overlook -- A roadside area provided for motorists to stop their vehicles beyond the shoulder, usually with parking areas, primarily for viewing spectacular scenes.

CP. Secondary highway -- Minor roads, rural and/or urban, farm to market roads and the like that are designated secondary state highways, and are either paved or unpaved.

CQ. Secretary -- Secretary of the New Mexico State Highway and Transportation Department.

CR. Semi-rigid pipe or rigid pipe -- Pipe designed to tolerate from 1% to 3% (semi-rigid) diametric deflection or less than 1% (rigid).

CS. Service drop or service connection -- A utility service connection from a distribution line to a house, business or other entity.

CT. Skew or skewed -- Usually refers to a highway drainage structure set at oblique angles (not at 90 degrees) to the centerline of a highway. Could also be used to describe utility crossings.

CU. Slab, floating -- A concrete slab set between the ground surface and the top of a pipeline to protect the pipeline segment from static and dynamic load damage.

CV. Sleeve -- See Casing.

CW. Specifications or "Specs" -- Refers to technical design parameters written to define construction methods, materials quality and durability requirements, inspection and certification procedures, test procedures, and other mandatory procedures incidental to construction quality in general.

CX. Special district -- Any single or multipurpose district organized as a local public body of the state for the purpose of constructing and furnishing any urban-oriented service which another political subdivision of the state is authorized to perform, including but not limited to the services of water, sewage, garbage, refuse collection and recreation, but excluding the functions or services of drainage, irrigation, recreation, reclamation, soil and water conservation or flood control.

CY. Storm sewer trunk line -- Usually a large diameter storm water pipeline underground and parallel to the centerline or adjacent to the roadway or street, and fed by curb or median drop inlets.

CZ. Structure -- A bridge, drainage culvert or irrigation facility in highway usage, and a power or telephone pole in utility usage. Many other items are identified as structures in other industries.

DA. Structure profile sheets -- Construction plan sheets showing the size, depth and flow line gradient of proposed highway drainage culverts plus the inlet and outlet profiles.

DB. Subsurface utility engineering or SUE -- An engineering discipline, whereby records research, geophysical techniques and soft digging methods are used to accurately locate subsurface utilities. The process is intended to collect utility data very early in the design (FDI) process so as to mitigate conflicts between highway construction features and utilities.

DC. Temporary construction permit (T.C.P.) -- A land use agreement that terminates when the construction work within the permitted area is completed.

DD. Termini -- The written description of the location of a highway project.

DE. Traffic control plan (T.C.P.) -- A plan designed to guide drivers safely through a construction area; such plan must meet MUTCD minimum requirements.

DF. Transmission system -- Refers to a utility system which transmits a substantial volume of electric current, telephone calls, fluid or gaseous products from a generation location, source point, major storage point, well or the like to a location where actual distribution to the consumer will begin.

DG. Traveled way -- The portion of the roadway for the movement of vehicles, exclusive of the shoulders and auxiliary lanes.

DH. Trenched -- Installed in a narrow and open excavation.

DI. Turn-out -- A delineated roadway exit from a street or highway to allow access to private or other property; usually paved or improved with gravel.

DJ. Use and occupancy agreement -- See Permit.

DK. Utility -- All publicly, privately and cooperatively owned utilities, without distinction, for the rendition of water, electric power, sanitary sewer, storm sewer, steam, fuel gas, telephone or telegraph service through a system of pipes or wires devoted to public utility service. The systems can include natural gas; sanitary sewage collection systems; electricity; communication systems, including telephone, telegraph, TV cable, microwave, fiberoptics and others. The term "utility" does not apply to utility systems devoted solely to private use, or when the product of the private utility system is not for sale or for use by the general public as a whole.

DL. Vent -- Appurtenance to discharge gaseous contaminants from a pipe casing.

DM. Vertical clearance -- The difference in elevation, without obstruction, from the lowest point of the superstructure (bridge or box culvert, usually bottom of roof or deck bottom) or a wire conductor to the highest point of the traveled-way, river or railroad track, or below the bottom of a corrugated metal culvert or concrete box culvert or other utility underground facility to the top of another utility pipeline, conduit or cable built beneath the drainage structure or other utility facility.

DN. Walled -- Partially encased by concrete poured alongside the pipe.

DO. Wet-bore -- Illegal method of boring a hole beneath a highway using a water jet or sluicing method.

DP. Work order system -- A procedure for accumulating and recording all costs related to relocations into separate accounts.

DQ. X-ing -- Abbreviation for crossing. Refers to a railroad and/or utility crossing.

N.M. Admin. Code § 17.4.2.7

3/10/71, 11/15/96; Recompiled 12/31/01