A. To promote safe transport of oversize and overweight vehicles, or vehicle and load combinations, the department shall evaluate each special permit application on a case-by-case basis, whether additional permit requirements or restrictions are appropriate and necessary as a condition of permit approval. The department's decision to require additional permit restrictions shall be based on its consideration of:
1. Bridge capacities;
2. Load size and weight;
3. Pavement stress;
4. Road width, grade, and condition; and
5. Traffic dynamics of the proposed route.
B. The department shall require a special permit applicant to obtain an engineering analysis for transport of an overweight vehicle or vehicle and load combination:
1. Exceeding two hundred fifty thousand pounds;
2. Exceeding the maximum permitted weight computations for overweight axle group weight distribution as provided under Section 10.36.450; or
3. Exceeding a bridge weight restriction provided under Section 10.36.460, Table 4.
C. If the department requires an engineering analysis of a structure as a condition of permit approval, a special permit applicant shall obtain an analysis prepared by an engineer at the applicant's own expense.
1. An engineer registered by the Arizona State Board of Technical Registration in structural or civil engineering, as prescribed under A.R.S. Title 32, Chapter 1, shall prepare an engineering analysis of the proposed structure according to industry standards.
2. The special permit applicant shall submit to the department for review any engineering analysis prepared by an engineer.
3. An engineering analysis that complies to industry standards and prepared in accordance with the following publications:
a. The most recently published edition of the AASHTO Manual for Bridge Evaluation, including all interims, standards, or guidelines;
b. The most recently published edition of the AASHTO Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) — Bridge Design Specifications, including all interims, standards, or guidelines; and
c. The ADOT Bridge Load Rating Guidelines and Bridge Design Guidelines.
4. The engineer shall certify that an applicant's overweight vehicle will not overstress or damage any element of:
a. A highway structure, or
b. Any other county property.
D. An applicant may resubmit an engineering analysis approved by the department within the previous twelve months if:
1. The size and weight of the applicant's vehicle and load are identical to the previously approved permit application;
2. The segments of the applicant's proposed route are within the outer limits of the previously approved route; and
3. The condition of the highway structure or other county property has not changed.
E. The department shall conduct a separate review and approval process for each engineering analysis submitted under this section.
F. If the applicant's engineering analysis shows that a highway structure will not support the overweight vehicle as requested, the department shall deny the application for a special permit.
G. If the department determines a potential traffic safety risk exists, a special permit applicant shall submit to the department a comprehensive traffic control plan as provided under Section 10.36.070.
H. The department of transportation, sheriff's department, department of public safety, or any other law enforcement entity lawfully authorized to provide certified weights may weigh a special permitted vehicle and load exceeding two hundred fifty thousand pounds, or require the applicant to have the vehicle and load weighed as prescribed under A.R.S. § 28-1102.
(Ord. 2017-47 § 2 (part), 2017)