[Amended 7-27-2015 by Ord. No. 40-2015]
A separate permit shall be issued for each individual street cut. In addition to the street cuts previously described, street cut permits will be issued for the following:
A. Bore holes. Bore holes are small auger-drilled excavations, up to eight inches in diameter and no deeper than 18 inches, made in the pavement section for the purpose of investigating pavement conditions, or to open the pavement for investigations below the pavement section. Bore holes made below the pavement section must utilize nondestructive excavation methods. Nondestructive excavation shall be limited to methods that use pressurized air and vacuum systems to excavate borings, up to four square feet in area, for visual examination of underground utilities and other subsurface conditions. Nondestructive methods other than air-vacuum systems must be approved in writing by the Director of Public Works prior to issuance of the permit. Bore holes are street cuts and a bore hole fee will be charged for each bore hole made, as specified in Chapter 212, Fees. A permit will be required for each bore hole grouping. The permittee shall restore the bore holes in the same manner as a standard street cut. The work shall be completed within 30 days of boring. If the applicant does not restore the bore holes within that time period, the City of Reading reserves the right to take any steps deemed necessary to repair the street and the associated costs shall then be paid by the permittee.
B. Emergency cuts. Emergency street cuts and excavation required to access leaking utility mains or other installations that pose a potential hazard, or bore holes required to search out threatening conditions, may be made in advance of a permit at the discretion of the utility company conducting the investigation and repairs. Within two hours of commencing an emergency cut or excavation, the City's Police Department shall be notified at (610) 655-6111, as well as other potentially affected utilities and the PA One Call System. An authorized representative of the responsible party(ies) shall notify the Department of Public Works the next business day, and a proper permit application accompanied by appropriate fees and other required documents shall be submitted to the City within seven business days of the commencement of the work.
(1) A permittee shall perform emergency work until the emergency is eliminated, unless otherwise directed by the City.
(2) Once obtained, the emergency permit shall be kept on site and presented upon the request of any City official authorized to enforce this Part.
C. Ahead of paving permit. Applicants proposing street cuts at locations that are scheduled for street improvements by the City of Reading will be charged at the ahead of paving permit fee rate as specified in Chapter 212, Fees. A detailed construction plan must accompany each application for an ahead of paving permit. Temporary and permanent trench restoration will be performed by the permittee at his/her cost and in accordance with the schedule as directed by the Director of Public Works. The permanent pavement surface restoration will be coordinated with the Director of Public Works. The fee charged for this restoration shall be determined by applying typical costs for this construction work applied to the charged surface per § 508-705.
D. Traffic impact plan (TIP). The TIP shall detail the method by which vehicular and pedestrian traffic will be affected and controlled during a permitted project. The TIP shall also include any barricades, signs, lights or other approved safety devices necessary to facilitate a closure and where the work results in closing or diverting traffic into another lane, a flag person shall at all times be posted while the work is actively being performed. For street closures within the City that also require PennDOT permits, the application must include a copy of the state-issued permit and comply with all traffic control standards. In residential districts zoned R1, the Public Works Director may waive the requirement for a TIP; however, all other traffic control regulations are enforced.
E. Time extension. For conditions where the permitted work may not be completed, or has not been completed, on or before the permit expiration date, the Director of Public Works may, if he/she deems it advisable, take steps to backfill the trench and replace a permanent pavement over the opening. If an extension of time beyond the permit expiration date is necessary for the permittee to complete the work, then a written application must be submitted and signed by the permittee at least two weeks prior to the expiration date. Permit time extensions will only be granted upon the timely submission of the permit extension application and the payment of the time extension fee, as specified in Chapter 212, Fees. Any permittee that fails to request and receive an extension for permitted work and continues to work shall be in violation of this section.