Any person laying or repairing any pavement on a street, sidewalk or other public place or making an excavation in the same shall maintain suitable barricades to prevent injury of any person or vehicle by reason of the work. The barricades shall be protected by suitable lights at night time. Any defect in any pavement shall be barricaded to prevent injury and any person properly maintaining any opening or excavation in any such place shall guard the opening or excavation while it remains open by proper barricades and lights.
('73 Code, § 29-52)