Code of Ordinances
of Union County, Illinois.
Ordinance Chapter: Chapter 33 - Streets [33-1]
In constructing a public highway, if a ditch is made at the junction of highways, or at the entrance of gates or other openings of adjoining premises, the highway authorities shall construct good and sufficient culverts or other convenient crossings. New entrance culverts or crossings or additions to existing entrance culverts or crossings along an existing public highway or street where there is a ditch may be made with the consent of the highway authorities, provided the applicant for such entrance culvert or crossing constructs at the applicant’s expense a good and sufficient culvert or other convenient crossing of the type and size specified by the highway authorities, which structure shall then become the property of the public.
(A) Any person to throw, spill or deposit upon any highway any bottle, glass, nails, tacks, wire, cans, or any litter, as defined in the Litter Control Act, 415 ILCS 105/3.
(B) Any person who violates paragraph (A) upon any highway shall immediately remove the material or cause it to be removed.
(C) Any person removing a wrecked or damaged vehicle from a highway shall remove any glass or other debris, except any hazardous substance as defined in 415 ILCS 5/3.14, hazardous waste as defined in 415 ILCS 5/3.84, dropped upon the highway from such vehicle.
It shall be unlawful for any person to willfully and unnecessarily hinder, obstruct, or delay, or willfully and unnecessarily attempt to delay, hinder, or obstruct any other person in lawfully driving or traveling along or upon any highway within the limits of Union County, or offer for barter or sale merchandise on the highway so as to interfere with the effective movement of traffic.
(A) The owner, occupant or agent of each house, building or other structure assigned a number under the uniform numbering system provided in this Article shall place or cause to be placed such number on or near the house, building or other structure within ninety (90) days after receiving notification of the proper number assignment.
(B) Cost and installation of the numbers for the structures shall be paid for by the property owner. Numbers shall be not less than three (3) inches in height. All numbers shall be made of a durable, reflective, and clearly visible material.
(C) All numbers shall be conspicuously placed immediately above, on or at the side of the appropriate door to the house, building, or other structure so that the number is clearly visible from the street. In cases where the structure is situated so that numbers placed upon it cannot be clearly visible from the street, the structure number shall be placed near the walk, mailbox, gatepost, fence or other appropriate place so as to be clearly visible from the street.
(See 5 ILCS 220/3)
(A) All numbers for property shall be assigned in a manner mutually agreed upon by the PCETSB and the United States Postal Service.
(B) Each house, building or other occupied structure shall be assigned a separate number. A number or alphabetical letter shall be assigned for each occupant (i.e. apartment, company, etc.) within a building or other occupied structure.
(C) Existing number shall be changed only as necessary to ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of the Enhanced 911 system inUnionCounty, as determined in the judgment of the PCETSB.
(D) Written notification of the proper address of each house, building or structure shall be given to its owner, occupant or agent in all instances where a new number has been assigned under the terms of this Article.
(A) Pursuant to the Intergovernmental Cooperation Act, the PCB shall enter into an Agreement with the PCETSB to allow the PCETSB to assign names to, or rename, all streets, lanes, roads, highways and public ways in the unincorporated area of Union County. Furthermore, the PCETSB shall coordinate its efforts to implement this Article with United States Postal authorities. That on the approval of this Article, the PCB adopts the street names attached hereto.
(B) The initial purchase of the road signs for county roads shall be made by the Union County Highway Department using funds obtained for this purpose from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) Safety Grant. This safety grant shall provide the sum of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) for the purchase of said signs. Any sums necessary for the purchase of said road signs in excess of the monies obtained from said grant shall be paid by the PCETSB.
(C) Any additional signs purchased after the initial purchase shall be paid for by the PCETSB, including the cost of replacement signs or posts for signs which are damaged, lost or stolen. The Union County Highway Department shall pay for the maintenance and installation of the signs which are provided by the PCETSB.
(D) Signs designating the names of private streets, lanes, roads, and highways shall be erected and maintained at the expense of property owner or owners occupying such private streets, lanes, roads, and highways. Said signs shall be located to be easily visible to emergency personnel traveling from a public access road into the private roadway. All signs shall be of the same or similar construction as the signs erected by the PCETSB. Landowners who have erected said signs which comply with the provisions of this paragraph and with the standards adopted by the PCETSB, and may, after installation of said signs petition the PCETSB to take over and maintain these signs as per this Article. Any landowner who so petitions the PCETSB to take over and maintain a road sign shall be required to attach to his or her petition a valid easement granting access to the location for the purposes of installation, repair and maintenance of said signs.
(E) All expenses for the maintenance, preparation, and installation of uniform public street, public lane, public road, public highway and public way intersection signs shall be borne by the Union County Highway Department.
There is hereby established a uniform system for street naming or renaming and for numbering property and buildings on all streets, lanes, roads, highways and public ways in the unincorporated area of Union County. All buildings shall be numbered in accordance with the provisions set forth herein.
(A) Prohibited Attachment Practices.
- No utility attachment to a bridge or traffic structure will be considered that proposes any of the following practices.
- Burying conduits or cables in bridge slabs or sidewalks.
- Drilling holes outside the middle third of the web of load carrying steel structural elements.
- Welding on structural steel elements of the structure.
- Drilling into pre-stressed or post-tensioned, concrete supporting beams. Casting inserts into the bottom of pre-stressed concrete members.
- Attaching in manner that will reduce critical clearances.
- Attaching outside the fascia of the bridge or structure.
- Gas pipelines over four (4) inches (102mm) in diameter or having internal pressure in excess of seventy-five (75) pound psig (520 kPa). More than one gas pipeline for each structure.
- Pipelines carrying liquids or gases of an extraordinary hazardous nature shall not be attached to highway structures.
(B) Acceptable Attachment Practices. When and where the attachment of a utility to a highway bridge or structure is given favorable consideration, the following general practices shall be followed:
- The attachment shall be located below the floor of the structure between beams or girders and above the lowest structural member on existing structures. Conduits may be designed into a new structure for approved attachments.
- Supports and/or hangers shall be designed to clamp or bolt to steel structural elements.
- Supports and/or hangers shall be designed to clamp or bolt to pre-stressed or post-tensioned concrete structural elements.
- Utility facilities may be hung from inserts drilled on existing bridges or cast on new construction into non-critical concrete areas such as the floor slab. Inserts on new construction will be furnished and installed by the Department and show in detail on construction plans.
- The petitioner shall submit plans and specifications showing the size, weight per foot, and proposed method of attachment of the utility elements and stating the type of commodity to be transmitted, the proposed pressure or voltage, and giving the proposed location of cutoffs adjacent to the structure.
- A permit for bridge attachment shall provide conduit or pipe capacity for any anticipated expansion. In the interest of simplification, the assessment charge shall be calculated assuming that all conduits of the proposed system are filled.
- All work of attachment and maintenance of the utility facilities shall be accomplished by the utility. In the case of a new bridge or traffic structure, the contract special provisions will require the County’s contractor to cooperate with the utility company with the understanding that the utility company will furnish and install the necessary conduits or pipes and appurtenances.
It shall be the general policy of the Department to grant for accommodation of utilities on bridges only when engineering and economic study substantiates that all other means of accommodating the utility are not practical. Other means shall include, but not be limited to, underground, under stream, independent poles, cable supports, tower supports, etc., all of which are completely separated from the bridge. The utility company shall include the supporting data, in their request, that indicates the impracticality of alternate routing.
(A) Spraying of live foliage with any type of brush-killing chemicals in lieu of cutting shall not be permitted on County highway rights of way.
(B) Each permit application for chemicals use for growth retardant or prevention of reestablishment of brush shall be considered individually. Approval or disapproval will be based on the location and the proposed methods and materials.
(C) Permit applications for chemical control of vegetation shall require certification that the work will be accomplished by personnel licensed by the Department of Agriculture as Pesticide Applicators.
(A) The Department’s policies for the preservation and conservation of roadside trees, shrubs and turf are based on the inherent value of these environmental features to the public well-being and enjoyment.
(B) Tree trimming for line clearance shall not be considered a normal maintenance operation and each tree trimming project shall require the application for and the issuance of a separate working permit.
(C) Applications for tree trimming permits shall include assurance that the work will be accomplished by competent workmen with supervision experienced in following accepted tree pruning practices.
(D) Poor pruning practices resulting in damaged or misshapened trees shall not be tolerated and shall be grounds for cancellation of the tree trimming permit.
(E) The Department will require compensation for trees extensively damaged and for trees removed without authorization. The formula developed by the International Shade Tree Conference shall be used as a basis for determining the compensation for damaged trees or unauthorized removal of trees.
(F) The Department may require the removal of trees if trimming or radical pruning would leave them in an intolerable condition.
(G) The Department may require that special measures be taken to preserve specimen trees or trees of special significance. The required measures may consist of higher poles, side arm extensions, covered wire or other means.
(H) Tree trimming permits shall designate an expiration date in the interest of assuring that the work will be expeditiously accomplished.
Sanitary sewers and storm sewers other than those installed only for highway drainage shall be regulated by this Chapter. Drainage piping owned and operated by an organized drainage district, sanitary district, municipality, or individual is regulated by this Chapter.
Permit applications for sewer line installations shall indicate that the land and water pollution requirements of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Division of Water Pollution Control, have been satisfied. Sewer lines shall be installed to meet or exceed the recommendations of the current “Standard Specifications for Water and Sewer Main Construction inIllinois”.
(A) Parallel Sewer and Drain Piping. Sewer and drain piping systems may be permitted on County highways under the following conditions:
- The installation shall be located as near as practicable to the right of way line and not more than eight (8) feet (2.4m) from and parallel to the right of way line.
- The materials, construction methods and other elements are in conformance with Article I of this Chapter.
- Sewer and drainage piping shall have minimum cover of thirty (30) inches (0.8m) and preferably sufficient cover for freeze protection.
(B) Sewer and Drain Pipe Crossings. Sewer and drain pipe may be permitted to cross County highways under the following conditions:
- The materials, construction methods and other elements are in conformance with Article I of this Chapter.
- The installation shall cross at or as near as practicable to a ninety (90) degree angle with the highway centerline.
- Crossings of completed highway projects shall be installed by jacking or boring with encasement provided between bore or jacking pits.
- Casing may be omitted for crossings installed by open trench method prior to highway construction, if the sewer system is unpressurized or if continuous pipe or jointed pipe approved by the Department is used. Such uncased installation shall preclude future repair or maintenance under the roadway structure.
- Crossing pipe shall have minimum cover thirty (30) inches (0.8m) and preferably shall have sufficient cover for freeze protection.
Waterlines generally are those pipelines carrying potable water and permit applications for such lines shall indicate that all requirements of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Division of Public Water Supplies, have been satisfied. Waterlines shall be installed to meet or exceed the recommendations of the current “Standard Specifications for Water and Sewer Main Construction inIllinois”.
(A) Parallel Water Mains. Parallel water mains may be permitted on the rights of way of County highways under the following conditions:
- The installation shall be located as near as practicable to the right of way line and not more than eight (8) feet (2.4m) from and parallel to the right of way line.
- The materials, construction methods and other requirements conform to the provisions of Article I of this Chapter.
- Water main cover shall be sufficient to provide freeze protection and preferably should be a minimum of four (4) feet six (6) inches (1.4m).
(B) Water Main and Service Crossings. Water main and service crossings of County highways may be permitted under the following conditions:
- Installation shall cross at or as near as practicable to a ninety (90) degree angle with the centerline of the highway.
- The materials, construction methods and other elements shall conform to Article I of this policy.
- The crossings shall be installed by jacking or boring under completed highway projects.
- Encasement shall be furnished between bore pits unless continuous pipe or Department approved jointed pipe is used under the roadway structure.
- Casing may be omitted if pipe is installed prior to highway construction and carrier pipe is continuous or mechanical joints are of type approved by the Department. Belland spigot type pipes shall be encased regardless of installation method.
- Crossing shall have sufficient cover for freeze protection (preferably a minimum of four (4) feet six (6) inches (1.4m).
Petroleum products pipelines are those carrying crude or refined liquid petroleum products including, but not limited to, gasoline, distillates, Propane, Butane, or coal-slurry. Petroleum products pipelines are, with few exceptions, transmission lines delivering products to processing or distribution facilities. Petroleum products pipelines installed within County highway rights of way shall conform to the applicable sections of ANSI Standard Code for Pressure Piping. (Liquid Petroleum Transportation Piping System ANSI‑B 31.4).
Applications for pipeline permits shall state the type or types of transmitant, pipe size, maximum working pressure and the design standard to be followed.
(A) Parallel Petroleum Products Pipelines. Parallel petroleum products pipelines may be permitted on County highways under the following conditions:
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- The installation shall be located as near as practicable to the right of way line and not more than eight (8) feet (2.4m) from and parallel to the right of way line.
- The materials, construction methods and other elements are in conformance with the provisions of Article I of this Chapter.
- Pipelines shall have minimum cover of thirty (30) inches (0.8m).
(B) Petroleum Products Pipeline Crossings. Petroleum products pipelines crossings may be permitted to cross highways under the following conditions:
- The materials, construction methods and other elements are in conformance with Article I of this Chapter.
- The installation shall cross at or as near as practicable to a ninety (90) degree angle with the highway centerline.
- Crossings shall be installed by jacking or boring under completed highway projects with vented encasement provided between ditch lines or toes of slopes of the highway. The crossing may be installed using tunneling with vented encasement but only when the installation is not possible by other means. The venting of the encasement shall be within one (1) foot of the right of way line.
- Encasement may be eliminated under the following conditions:
- Extra heavy pipe is used with the understanding that such omission shall preclude future maintenance or repair.
- Cathodic protection of the pipe is provided.
- Crossing pipe shall have minimum cover of thirty (30) inches (0.8m).
- Crossing shall be marked at the right of way lines with markers that identify the owner-operator and give emergency telephone numbers.
An application for a permit for a new gas distribution system installation shall include evidence, when required that a “Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity” has been issued by the Illinois Commerce Commission. Gas pipelines when permitted on the rights of way of County highways shall be constructed, maintained, and operated in conformance with the Federal Code of the Office of Pipeline Safety Operations, Department of Transportation, Part 192 – Transportation of Natural and Other Gas by Pipeline. Minimum Federal Safety Standards, the Department’s “Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction”, and the regulations contained in this policy.
Applications for gas pipeline permits shall state the proposed pipe size, design, construction class, and operating pressures.
(A) Parallel Gas Pipelines. Gas pipelines for transmission distribution, and service may be permitted parallel to the centerline of conventional County highways under the following conditions:
- The installation shall be located as near as practicable to the right of way line and not more than eight (8) feet (2.4m) from and parallel to the right of way line.
- The materials, construction methods, and other elements are in conformance with the provisions of Article I of this Chapter. Gas pipelines shall have minimum cover of thirty (30) inches (0.8m).
(B) Gas Pipeline Crossings. Gas pipelines for transmissions, distribution, and service may be permitted to cross conventional County highways under the following conditions:
- Installation shall cross at or as near as practicable to a ninety (90) degree angle with the highway centerline.
- Crossings over sixty (60) psig shall be installed by jacking or boring with vented encasement provided between the ditch lines or toes of slopes of the highway. The crossing may be installed using, tunneling with vented encasement but only when the installation is not possible by other means. The venting of the encasement shall extend within one (1) foot of the right of way line. Crossings may also be installed by the use of “moles”, “whip augers” or other approved methods which compress the earth to move the opening for pipe.
- Installation by open trench shall be permitted only prior to roadway construction with vented encasement provided between ultimate ditch lines or toes of slopes.
- Encasement will not be required for service crossings or others under sixty (60) psig.
- For installations sixty (60) psig and over encasement may also be eliminated under the following conditions:
- Extra heavy pipe is used with the understanding that such omission shall preclude future maintenance or repair.
- Cathodic protection of the pipe is provided.
- The locations of the crossing pipe for transmission and distribution lines shall be marked at the right of way line with markers that identify the utility and provide emergency telephone numbers. In urban areas, the markers for transmission and distribution lines may be eliminated as provided in current Federal regulations.
- In built-up or expanding areas, frequent service crossing should be discouraged in favor of establishing distribution on both sides of the highway.
- Gas pipeline crossings shall have a minimum cover of thirty (30) inches (0.8m) at all locations on right of way, including below design ditch elevation if ditch is higher than design elevation.
(A) Parallel Lines. Underground power and communication lines may be permitted parallel to the centerline of conventional County highways under the following conditions:
The installation shall be located as near the right of way line as practicable and no more than five (5) feet (1.5m) from the right of way line.
- Cable may be installed by trenching or plowing with special consideration given to crossing improved entrances and side roads.The applicant for permit shall submit his plans and proposed construction methods.
- If the buried electric power cable used it to operate at three hundred (300) volts to ground or greater, it must include a bare grounded conductor in continuous contact with the earth. This conductor shall be adequate for the magnitude and duration of the fault current imposed and shall be either shielded or multiple concentric conductors closely spaced circumferentially.
- Above-ground appurtenances constructed as component parts of underground communications or electric power lines shall be located within one (1) foot (0.3m) of the right of way line or as near as practicable.
(B) Underground Crossings. Underground power and communication lines will be permitted to cross County highways under the following conditions:
- The design materials and construction methods shall be those that can be expected to provide maximum maintenance-free service life.
- Capacity for foreseeable future expansion needs shall be provided in initial installation.
- Encasement shall be provided between jacking or bore pits, if the crossing is installed by boring or jacking.
- Encasement may be eliminated under the following conditions:
- The crossing is installed by the use of “moles”, “whip augers” or other approved method which compress the earth to make the opening for cable installation.
- The installation is by the open trench method. This method is only permitted prior to the roadway construction.
- If the power cable used is to operate at three hundred (300) volts to ground or greater, it must include a bare grounded conductor in continuous contact with the earth. This conductor shall be adequate for the magnitude and duration of the fault current imposed and shall be either shielded or multiple concentric conductors closely spaced circumferentially.
- Installations shall have a minimum cover of thirty (30) inches (0.8m)except that communication lines installed by the plowed method shall have a minimum cover of twenty-four (24) inches (0.6m).
(A) Parallel Lines.
- Overhead power and communication lines parallel to the centerline of conventional County highways, where permitted, shall be single pole construction located as near as practicable to the right of way line and as nearly parallel to the right of way line as reasonable pole alignment will permit.
- Joint use of poles shall be required where practical.
- No utility poles shall be permitted in the ditch line of any County highway.
- Ground-mounted appurtenances to electric power or communication lines, when permitted, shall be located within one (1) foot (0.3m) of the right of way line or as near as practicable.
(B) Overhead Crossings.
- Overhead power and communication line crossing highways shall cross at or as near to a ninety (90) degree angle as practicable. Vertical line clearance over the roadway shall be a minimum of eighteen (18) feet (5.5m) with additional clearances as required by General Order No. 160 Revised of the I.C.C. for higher voltage lines.
- Poles shall be located within one (1) foot (0.3m) of the right of way of the highway or as near as practicable.
- Overhead crossings at major interchanges shall be discouraged.
- In expanding areas, frequent service crossings shall be discouraged in favor of requiring distribution systems on both sides of the highway.
An application for a permit for a new proper or communication installation system shall include evidence, if required, that a “Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity” has been issued by the Illinois Commerce Commission. Electric power or communications installations on County highway rights of way shall be constructed, operated, and maintained in conformity with the provisions of the National Electric Safety Code and General Order No. 160 Revised of the Illinois Commerce Commission entitled “Rules for Construction of Electric Power and Communication Lines” except for certain vertical clearance requirements as hereinafter noted.
(A) Ground Mounted Appurtenances. Ground mounted appurtenances, when permitted on County highway rights of way, shall be provided with a vegetation-free area extending one (1) foot (305mm) in width beyond the appurtenance in all directions. The vegetation-free area may be provided by an extension of the mounting pad, or by heavy duty plastic or similar material meeting the approval of the Department. With the approval of the district, shrubbery surrounding the appurtenance may be used in place of vegetation-free area. The housing for ground mounted appurtenances shall be painted an inconspicuous color.
(B) Guy Wires and Brace Posts. The utility companies shall make every reasonable effort to design the installation so guys and braces will not be needed on the rights of way.
Exceptions may be allowed when there is no feasible alternative. When an exception is allowed, guy wires shall be equipped with GUY GUARDS for maximum visibility.
Rights of abutting property owners are covered under Illinois Statutes (605 ILCS 5/9–113 and 5/9–127). The Department shall not be a party in any negotiations between the utility and abutting property owners.
In the facilities installed on County highway rights of way are abandoned, the utility company may, at the option of the Superintendent of Highways be required to remove such facilities and restore the right of way to a satisfactory condition. Such removal is not expected to be a normal requirement but requested only when the abandoned facilities will interfere with anticipated construction or other anticipated use of the right of way in the area or when existence of the abandoned utilities could be detrimental to the highway.
Certain facilities that may be considered as quasi-utility occupancies may be permitted on County highway rights of way subject to the applicable requirements and restrictions for the more common utility installations herein covered in detail. In this category would be such facilities as Highway Lighting, Drainage Ditches, Irrigation Ditches, Levees and possibly some others.
These miscellaneous facilities, where and when permitted, shall be constructed in accord with the Department’s current design standards and be subject to structural analysis when appropriate.
It shall be the responsibility of the utility company to ascertain the presence of, and the location of, existing underground utility facilities or drainage facilities on the highway right of way to be occupied by their proposed facilities.
Utility facilities on County highway rights of way are to be maintained by or for the owner corporation in a manner satisfactory to the Department and at the owner corporation’s expense.
Upon completion of all construction or maintenance of utility facilities on County highway rights of ay, the contractor and/or the owner corporation shall remove all excess material and restore all turf and terrain to the satisfaction of the Department. Such cleanup and repair may consist of backfilling, regarding, reseeding, resodding, or any other requirement to restore the right of way to a condition equivalent to that which existed prior to the commencement of the project.
(A) General. The surety bonds required for utility work and occupancy on County highway rights of way are intended primarily to assure the prompt and satisfactory replacement and repair, at no cost to the County, of County highway facilities that may be damaged or disrupted by the utility companies operations or occupancy. These bonds are not to be considered as personal injury and property damage insurance.
The monetary value of the surety shall be based on the potential for highway facility damages which may be related to the type and volume of transmittant, and the physical dimensions of the utility facilities.
(B) Highway Permit Continuing Bond. Surety is to be provided as a continuing bond to remain in full force and effect for all Utility Companies issued a General Utility Permit providing for long-term or permanent occupancy of County highway rights of way.
(C) Individual Highway Permit Bond. Surety shall be provided by a contractor who constructs or maintains utility facilities under permit for a municipality or other public body which is not required to maintain a continuing bond. Individual Highway Permit Bonds are to remain in full force and effect until the specific project is completed and the highway right of way left in a condition satisfactory to the Department.
(D) Continuing Bond for Utility Contractors. A contractor, who has occasion to frequently request permits for utility work for public entities, may provide, at his option, for a continuing bond. This arrangement eliminates the need for the contractor to secure an Individual Highway Permit Bond for each project.
The petitioner for the occupancy of County highway right of way indemnifies the County by provisions of the permit against any liability for death, personal injury, or property damage that might occur attributable to the construction, maintenance, or occupancy of the utility facilities on the County highway right of way.
The material used in constructing utility installations on the rights of way of the County Highway System shall be those meeting the accepted standards of the appropriate industry, the applicable portions of the State’s “Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction”, the requirements of the Illinois Commerce Commission, or the Standards established by other official regulatory agencies for the appropriate industry.
Construction methods for utility installations on County highway rights of way shall comply with the applicable provisions of the State of Illinois Department of Transportation “Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction”, the applicable General Orders of the Illinois Commerce Commission, Regulations of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, and the Standards adopted by the appropriate industry.
(A) Boring or Jacking. Boring or jacking under County highways shall be accomplished from pits located a minimum distance of ten (10) feet (3m) plus the depth of pit without shoring from the edge of the pavement. If shoring is used, the pits shall be located a minimum of ten (10) feet (3m) from the edge of pavement on conventional highways. The shoring shall be installed immediately after excavation of the pit and it shall be designed, erected, supported, braced, and maintained so that it will safely support all vertical and lateral loads that may be imposed upon it during the boring or jacking operation.
Wet boring or jetting shall not be permitted under the roadway structure of County highways.
Borings over six (6) inches (0.15m) in diameter shall be accomplished with an auger and following pipe, and the diameter of the auger and following pipe by more than one (1) inch (25mm). Borings six (6) inches and under may be accomplished by either jacking or auger and following pipe method. Pits for boring or jacking shall be excavated no more than forty-eight (48) hours in advance of boring or jacking operations and backfilled within forty-eight (48) hours after boring or jacking operations are completed. While pits are open, they shall be clearly marked and protected by barricades.
(B) Trenching. Trenching for utility installation, repair, or maintenance on County highway rights of way shall be done in accord with the applicable portions of Section 603 of the Illinois Department of Transportation “Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction”.
The length of open trench shall be kept to the practicable minimum consistent with requirements for pipe-line testing.
Open trench and windrowed excavated material shall be protected as required by Chapter 6 of the Illinois“Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices”. Where practicable, the excavated material shall be deposited between the roadway and the trench as added protection.
Excavated material shall not be allowed to remain on the paved portion of the roadway. Where right of way width does not allow for windrowing excavated material off the paved portion of the roadway, excavated material shall be hauled to an off-road location.
(C) Backfilling. Backfilling shall consist of refilling pits and/or trenches, excavated for the installation of utilities, with acceptable materials and construction methods in accord with the Illinois Department of Transportation “Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction”. When excavated material is hauled away or is unsuitable for backfill, suitable granular backfill shall be used.
All trenches within the limits of the roadway structure shall be backfilled for their full width, depth, and length with granular material meeting the requirements of Article 704.07 (approximately CA 17 gradation) of the “Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction”.
(D) Pavement Cuts. Pavement cuts for utility installation or repair shall not be permitted on any County highway open for traffic. If a variance is permitted as covered under Section 33–1‑6, the following requirements shall apply:
- Any excavation under pavements shall be promptly backfilled with granular material meeting the requirements of Article 704.07 (approximately CA 17 gradation) of the State’s “Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction”.
- Restoration for pavement, in kind, shall be accomplished as soon as practicable, and temporary repair with bituminous mixture shall be provided immediately. Any subsequent failure of either temporary repair or the restoration shall be rebuilt upon notification by the Department.
(E) Material Storage on Right of Way. All pipe, conduit, wire, poles, cross arms, or other materials distributed along the highway prior to installation shall be placed as remote as practicable from the edge of pavement in a manner to minimize its being a hazard to errant vehicles or an obstacle to highway maintenance. If material is to be stored on highway right of way for more than two (2) weeks prior to installation, approval must be obtained from the Superintendent of Highways or his duly authorized agent.
(F) Operational Restrictions. Utility construction and/or maintenance operations on County highway rights of way may be at the discretion of the Department, be required to be discontinued during periods of inclement weather when such operations would create extraordinary hazards to highway traffic. Such operations may also be required to be discontinued or restricted when soil conditions are such that the utility work would result in extensive damage to the highway right of way.
These restrictions shall be waived when emergency work is required to restore vital utility services.
Encasement of underground utility crossings where required is intended to serve one or more of the following purposes:
(A) To allow replacement of utility without future disruption of roadway structure.
(B) To vent or drain leaks of volatile gases or liquids that might occur under the roadway structure.
(C) To serve as bridge or carrier through unstable soil structure.
(D) To prevent cavitation under pavement structure from leaks of pressurized liquids.
(E) To allow ease of insertion and coating protection of utility conductor or carrier.
(F) To provide protection of utility conductor or carrier from superimposed loads and/or “dig-in” damage.
(G) Casing pipe shall be designed to withstand the load of the highway and any other superimposed loads. The casing shall be continuous either by one-piece fabrication or by welding or jointed installation approved by the Department Under-ground utility crossings without encasement, when permitted, will generally preclude future maintenance or repair within the area between the ditch lines or toes of slopes.
Utilities, where permitted, shall be located as remote as practical from the traveled or paved portion of the highway. No new above ground utility facilities shall be located within the area established as clear zone for that particular section of highway. No new parallel utility installations shall be permitted under paved portions of streets or highways under Department jurisdiction in rural areas and only under extraordinary conditions in urban areas.
Utility crossing facilities installed between the ditch lines of County 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 these areas.
Utilities shall not be permitted to cross under local highways in cattle passes, culverts, or other drainage facilities.
(A) Manholes. Manholes shall not be permitted in the traffic lanes of County highways in rural areas. Existing manholes may be permitted to remain.
(B) Utility Bridges and Tunnels. Bridges to carry utilities over County highways or tunnels to carry utilities under County 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. (Formerly PPM 80–10‑1 and 80–10‑2). The same provisions shall apply to non-federally aided County highways except the approval of FHWA will not be a requirement.
(C) Medians. Each utility crossing involving construction operations within a median area shall be considered individually. If such operations can be conducted thirty (30) feet (9 m) or more from edges of both pavements, the crossing will be considered as two separate highway crossings.
(D) On-Site Utility Location. The requirements for the vertical and horizontal field location of any utility installation on County right of way prior to and during construction shall be in accordance with the Department policy.
(E) Underground Utility Markers. Markers shall be placed on existing right-of-way lines every one-half (0.5) mile where continuous underground utilities are located on new or replacement installation.
The markers shall be placed a minimum of five (5) feet above the existing ground line and shall contain the name and address of the owner and the type of underground facility located nearby and the telephone number to be called in case of emergency.
If more than one utility exists along the same area, additional markers may be placed upon the same post, when permission is granted by the initial utility to place additional markers upon their post.
This policy is oriented toward the preservation of the rights and privileges of the general public in the safe and free use of the County Highway System while allowing the optimum usage of the highway rights of way by utilities that provide needed and useful services to the general public.
Requests for utility occupancies that would not conform to the provisions of this policy shall be considered individually. Variance from policy may be granted where extreme terrain features or other extreme conditions would make compliance impractical or unreasonable.
The grantee of utility occupancy permit is responsible for providing and installing warning signs, protective devices and flagmen, when necessary, meeting the Department’s requirements for protection of the traveling public and the utilities’ workers when performing any work on the right of way. This is a very important responsibility and the utility is subject to the same traffic protection requirements as a contractor of County forces working on the right of way. The Department’s minimum of the “Illinois Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways”. The grantee shall take immediate action to correct any deficiencies in traffic protection requirements that are brought to said grantee’s attention by the Department.
A fee of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00)shall be assessed for each permit application to cover pre-inspection, board review, and post-inspection requirements.
In addition, if repairs are necessary due to improper workmanship by the utility company, such repairs shall be made by the highway department and billed to the responsible utility company.
Permits and bonds to be issued under this policy by theCounty ofUnion will be executed by the Union County Superintendent of Highways.
The written consent for utility occupancy required by Illinois Compiled Statutes (605 ILCS 5/9–113) is provided by procedures involving the application for and the issuance of permits on forms standardized by the Union County Highway Department (hereinafter referred to as Department). No utility work shall be started on a local right of way until an approved permit has been issued.
(A) Disclaimer. Permits issued by the Department are effective only insofar as the County of Union and the Union County Superintendent of Highways has jurisdiction and do not presume to release the permittee from compliance with any Federal, State, or local statutes and regulations applicable to utility construction, operation or maintenance.