The permittee shall comply with the following requirements when installing underground facilities.
(A) Underground facilities shall, where reasonably possible, be installed outside the paved or surface area. If unable to install outside the surfaced area, the installation shall be as close to the edge of the roadway surface as possible to allow access thereto without unnecessarily disturbing paved areas of the roadway.
(B) Public right-of-way alignment and grade shall be maintained.
(C) Fiber facilities shall be buried in a proper conduit and at a depth of no less than three feet deep and no more than four feet; copper facilities below concrete or bituminous paved roadway surfaces shall be buried no less than three feet deep and no more than four feet deep, and all other copper facilities shall be buried no less than 30 inches deep and no more than four feet deep.
(D) When required, the permittee shall excavate an observation hole over a city utility to ensure that a city utility is not damaged.
(E) If the project work involves an open cut, the permittee shall install visual tracers 12 inches over buried facilities. If other construction methods are used, substitute location methods may be used upon approval by the city.
(F) During plowing or trenching of facilities, a warning tape shall be placed at a depth of 12 inches above copper cables with over 200 pairs and fiber facilities and a locating wire or conductive shield shall be installed above buried telecommunication facilities, except for di-electric cables.
(G) Restoration of areas disturbed by facilities will include returning the right-of-way to the same condition that existed before excavation as per Minn. Rules part 7819.1100, as it may be amended from time to time. Subject to this standard, plates 1 to 13, shown in Minn. Rules parts 7819.9900 to 7819.9950, as they may be amended from time to time, indicate maximum limits of restoration methods and area requirements the local government unit can impose when a right-of-way user excavates in the public right- of-way. The local government unit and right-of-way user may agree to a lesser requirement. The right-of-way user is responsible for all of its work done in the public right-of-way, whether by employees, agents, or independent contractors. All levels of restoration include compaction of the materials placed in the excavation of the sub-grade and aggregate base, plus pavement replacement, in kind. If required by the local government unit, all work must be performed according to the local government unit's specifications and drawings.
(H) If reasonably possible, facilities should be located so as to avoid interference with existing and potential future traffic signals and signs.
(I) Unless approved by the city, all above-ground appurtenances shall be located no closer than ten feet to city hydrants, waterline valves, manholes, lift stations, catch basins; not in front of or within visual sight lines of any city sign, monument or amenity for facilities or parks; and no closer than two feet from sidewalks, driveways, and trails.
(J) Underground facilities shall not be installed between a hydrant and an auxiliary valve.
(K) Where utility easements exist beyond the roadway surface area of the public right-of-way and space is available therein, underground facilities shall not be installed within five feet of hydrants, waterline valves, lift stations, manholes, or catch basins. In those areas in which no utility easement exists, placement of an underground facility shall be between the edge of pavement and no closer than three feet to an existing city utility appurtenance, unless approved by the city.
(L) The location and installation of telecommunications facilities shall comply with the National Electric Safety Code, as incorporated by reference in the Minnesota Statutes.
(Ord. 2019-295, passed 3-25-2019)