(A) Information required.
(1) Each applicant requesting a permit under this article shall submit bridge plan and profile sheet signed and sealed by appropriate licensed professionals with a complete application. The planning department may require other information to be necessary to assess compliance with this article.
(2) In addition to the design standards established herein, all plans shall comply with the following laws, ordinances, rules and regulations.
(a) Federal requirements. All bridges must meet or exceed current standards and regulations of the USACE and any other agency of the federal government with the authority to regulate development.
(b) State requirements. The rules and regulations of the State Department of Transportation relating to safety of access and the preservation of the public interest and investment in the streets if the subdivision or any lot contained therein abuts a state trunk highway or connecting street. The State Division of Coastal Management shall review the application to determine the need for any state authorization.
(c) ONWASA policies. The applicable policies of the Onslow Water and Sewer Authority (ONWASA).
(d) Building codes.
i.) A building permit is required when constructing a private bridge. To ensure the structural integrity of bridges, the owner of a bridge shall ensure that it is maintained in compliance with standards contained in applicable federal, state and local building codes and regulations.
ii.) Where a bridge or elevated surface is part of a fire apparatus road, the bridge shall be constructed and maintained in accordance with AASHTO-HB-17. Bridges and elevated surfaces shall be designed for a live load sufficient to carry the imposed loads of fire apparatus. Vehicle load limits shall be posted in both entrances to bridges when required by the fire code official. Where elevated surfaces designed for emergency vehicle use are adjacent to surfaces which are not designed for such use, approved barriers, approved signs or both shall be installed and maintained when required by the fire code official.
(e) Other laws. Any other law presently applicable or subsequently to be enacted.
(3) The applicant shall provide an engineer’s written certification of compliance.
(4) The applicant shall provide copies of its maintenance agreement.
(B) Review. Plans shall be reviewed by:
(1) State Division of Coastal Management to determine the need for any state authorization. Soil disturbances shall be avoided or minimized in the wetlands. At no time will wetlands be filled or excavated during construction;
(2) United States Army Corps of Engineers;
(3) Onslow Water and Sewer Authority (ONWASA) for approval of all taps from main water supply;
(4) Town Fire Marshal to determine compliance with the following fire safety requirements:
(a) Private bridges 500 feet or less shall be 20 feet in width and rated a minimum of 25 tons for fire apparatus and shall have a dry firefighting line of six-inch schedule 120 PVC with two risers each with a double two and one-half-inch IMFT fire hose connection (one riser at each end of bridge). Fire hydrant shall be installed within 100 feet of the riser from the mainland side of the bridge by the contractor and inspected by Onslow Water and Sewer Authority (ONWASA) and shall have dry firefighting line of no less than six inches schedule 120 PVC with two risers each with a dry fire hydrant (Muller Brand), shall be color coded different from main fire hydrants (one dry hydrant at each end of bridge.) Fire hydrant (Muller Brand) shall be installed off the present water main near the base of the bridge within 100 feet of the riser from the mainland side of the bridge by the contractor and shall be inspected by ONWASA.
(b) Placement of fire hydrants required;
(c) A planned development with an eight-inch water main supply to the properties that requires a bridge that meets the requirement set forth, would not require a dry firefighting line.
(C) Final inspection. Final inspection with project engineer and contractor shall be conducted on site by Town Building Codes Administrator, Zoning Administrator and Fire Chief.
(D) Maintenance. Private bridges and dry fire line shall be maintained by property owners.
(E) Annual inspections. All private bridges shall be inspected on an annual basis and immediately after a hurricane or other acts of nature that impact the town. The inspection shall be conducted by a private certified engineer that has a background in the bridge construction. The property owner shall be responsible for providing a copy of the bridge inspection report to the town building inspections department.
(F) Disclosure statement. A disclosure statement shall be made to the property owners and /or homeowners association regarding bridge inspection. A disclosure statement shall be placed in all homeowners association covenants and bylaws and disclosure to all property owners that homeowners association and property owners are responsible for all bridge construction, maintenance, repair and annual inspections.
(G) Required yearly report. The owner of each such bridge shall submit a certification by a licensed professional engineer to the Town Building Inspections Department on the anniversary of the final inspection. Failure to provide annual certification will be accessed a $500 per day fine after 30 days and may result in loss of fire protection insurance rating.
(H) Review fees. Any out-of-pocket costs incurred for review by a licensed engineer of any of the above required information shall be paid by the applicant. The town accepts no responsibility for inspection cost for private bridges or private roadways.
(I) Requests for acceptance to town or state system. Private bridges shall be constructed in accordance with AASHTO-HB-17 and be in accordance with the 2012 North Carolina Fire Code, § 503.2.6 (as amended). Bridges and elevated surfaces prior to a request for the bridge to be accepted and maintained by the town or state.
(Ord. passed 9-1-2008; Ord. passed 5-7-2009; Ord. passed 11-2-2011)