Location of Facilities

Section 530 Section 530.230  Location of Facilities a)         All utility installations shall be located as follows: 1)         Longitudinal utilities shall be located as near the right-of-way line as practicable and not more than eight feet from and parallel to the right-of-way line. 2)         No new above-ground utility facilities shall be located in the area established as clear zone for that particular section of highway. 3)         No new longitudinal utility installations will be permitted under paved longitudinal portions of streets or highways under Department jurisdiction; however, new cables will be allowed in existing ducts if they can be installed without disrupting the pavement. 4)         Utility crossing facilities installed between the ditch lines or curb lines of State highways shall be designed and constructed and shall incorporate materials and protective appurtenances so as to virtually preclude future disruption in these areas.  Protection may include encasement, additional cover, or other measures that might not be required outside the areas. 5)         Utilities will not be permitted to cross under State highways, in cattle passes, culverts or other drainage facilities. 6)         Manholes will not be permitted in the traffic lanes or shoulders of State highways.  Existing manholes may be permitted to remain. 7)         Bridges or tunnels to carry utilities other than railroads or public utilities, over or under State highways, shall be considered as a use of "air rights" and shall be processed on federally aided highways as prescribed in Federal-Aid Highway Program Manual Volume 7, Chapter 4, Section 3.  The same provisions shall apply to non-federallly aided State highways except the approval of FHWA will not be a requirement. 8)         Utility crossings shall be at or as near as practicable to a 90 degree angle with the highway centerline. 9)         No utility appurtenances such as pumping stations and transformers serving a longitudinal facility will be allowed in interchanges. 10)        The inability to locate a longitudinal facility within the prescribed distance from the right-of-way line may be grounds for denial. b)         Installations not conforming with subsection (a) will require the granting of a variance by the Department.