N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. tit. 17 § 131.19

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 45, November 2, 2024

Section 131.19 - Underground work

Underground work shall be in accordance with the nationally recognized standards, and as prescribed below. Regional offices may impose more stringent conditions in a permit based upon prevalent weather and traffic conditions.

(a) Installation.

(1) Pavement crossings for underground utilities shall be accomplished by jacking, driving, drilling, boring, or tunneling. "Open cut" installation will be approved by the department only upon a clear demonstration of necessity or other conditions which warrant such a procedure. Subsurface rock formations, excessive presence of boulders, excessive and damaging skin friction during jacking operations or insufficient rights-of-way limits to allow jacking, driving or tunneling may constitute a necessity. Where an ongoing construction contract requires pavement removal and/or construction of new pavement, the department may consider approving an "open cut".

(2) The edge of the excavation (nearest the pavement) used for driving or jacking shall not be less than 10 feet, measured laterally from the curb, or edge of shoulder at shoulder break, whichever provides more clearance. When the highway configuration or other circumstances preclude the minimum offset, the department may consider approving an alternate configuration and offset.

(b) Crossover carrier pipes.

(1) Crossover carrier pipes shall be designed to withstand all applied and/or superimposed loadings resulting from the roadway section, traffic, potential pipe settlements, and installation procedures. Certain soil and/or site conditions may require encasement. Where a cathodic system is designed to be installed for the crossover carrier pipe, the design of any casing shall be so as not to diminish the desired level of protection.

(2) Crossover carrier pipe design shall be site specific, based on field investigation. The design shall address all potential applied loads, installation methods, and loads induced during installation. The preferred installation method when operating below the water table or in soft ground shall employ an earth pressure balance or comparable system in order to prevent flowing soil or ground loss and pavement distress.

(3) Design of a crossover carrier pipe section shall include consideration of, but not be limited to the following:

(i) Increased pipe wall thickness for the distance within the pavement plus possible additional distance to allow for future highway widening.

(ii) Adequate wrapping, coating or other treatment to protect against corrosion.

(iii) Protective jacket adequate to ensure the integrity of the anti-corrosion material under installation and service conditions.

(c) Longitudinal carrier pipes, including utility service connections, shall be installed outside the area of live load influence, unless there is no practical alternative.

(d) Temporary pavement repairs with cold patch or other acceptable bituminous patching shall be placed as soon as backfill is made. It shall be maintained flush with the pavement surface until the backfill has been properly compacted, and permanent restoration of the pavement surface completed.

(e) Existing underground facilities shall be maintained and protected by and at the expense of the permit applicant in compliance with Industrial Code Rule 53 (12 NYCRR Part 53).

(f) Sheeting. Where excavation is within the pavement area or when the depth of excavation is greater than the distance from the edge of pavement to the edge of trench, sheeting may be required.

(g) Backfill. Backfill material shall be of a quality and type acceptable to the department and shall be compacted sufficiently to preclude future settlement of the excavated area. The backfill material shall be of a quality so as not to block or intercept the drainage of the subgrade. Excavations for service connections shall be backfilled within two days.

(1) Within roadway. Within the roadbed limit of a cut section or within the embankment section, the excavation shall be backfilled using approved layer thicknesses of material acceptable to the department, to the top of the subgrade. Material shall be compacted to an acceptable density with approved equipment.

(2) Outside roadway. The backfill for excavated areas shall be compacted to an approved density with acceptable material and upper surface maintained level with the original surface. The surface shall be treated, if required, in order to leave the surface in essentially the same condition as it was prior to the excavation. All surplus material and trash shall be removed and disposed of in a lawful and proper manner. The work area shall not be left in an unsightly condition.

(3) Trenchless installations. All detrimental voids created during the installation of a crossover pipe, regardless of method, shall be filled. Appropriate backfill type and method of placement shall be addressed in the design of the crossing.

(h) Pavement replacement.

(1) Temporary pavement restoration shall consist of a minimum compacted thickness of three inches of asphalt concrete, and approved base material of a depth to provide for permanent pavement. In situations where heavy traffic loads are anticipated or cases where the temporary pavement is required for a protracted period, more substantial pavement and backfill design may be required. The asphalt concrete shall be maintained flush with the existing pavement until permanent restoration of the pavement.

(2) Permanent pavement replacement will be specified in the permit.

(3) On reinforced concrete pavements, the appropriate class of concrete shall be used. Undermined and broken slabs shall be completely replaced. Approved joint dowels and sealer, transverse ties and reinforcing steel shall be used as required.

(4) Asphalt concrete pavement shall be replaced with adequately compacted base material, binder and top course material which is at least equal in quality, mix type and thickness to the pavement which was removed. Existing pavement should be saw-cut to provide a clean butt joint between the old and new pavement. An emulsified asphalt tack coat shall be applied to all existing pavement edges prior to placing the new asphalt pavement courses.

(5) Shoulders shall be replaced with material of like quality, thickness and type as the existing shoulder.

(6) Manhole frames, grates and similar appurtenances placed within the roadway shall be approved by the department and shall be set in a workman-like manner flush with the surface of the roadway.

(i) The department will not undertake or accept financial responsibility for any remediation or similar activity with respect to the removal of hazardous wastes (6 NYCRR Parts 373 and 374) and non-hazardous solid industrial wastes (6 NYCRR Part 360) which under law would not be required at the time but for the accommodation of utility facilities within the right-of-way. Such responsibility and costs shall be solely those of the utility.

N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. Tit. 17 § 131.19