(A) Adoption of manual. The Township hereby finds and declares that problems of traffic-control occur when traffic must be moved through or around road or street construction, maintenance operations and utility work, above or below ground, which requires blocking the roadway and obstructing the normal flow of traffic, and that such obstructions are or can become dangerous when not properly controlled. In order to better promote the public health, safety, peace and welfare, it is necessary to establish controls and regulations directed to the safe and expeditious movement of traffic through construction and maintenance zones and to provide safety for the work forces performing these operations. Accordingly, the Township adopts the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, hereafter known as “M.U.T.C.D.,” as the same may be amended from time to time, except as supplemented and amended by this § 70.05, to control and regulate whenever construction, maintenance operations or utility work obstructs the normal flow of traffic. Any person, contractor or utility who fails to comply with the provisions of M.U.T.C.D. while performing such work is in violation of this section. Work performed on State Highway Rt. 73 must comply with N.J. State DOT requirements. ('74 Code, § 122-30.90)
(B) Preconstruction meetings. It shall be the responsibility of the person, contractor or, in the case of a public utility, the party, as required under the public utility agreement and N.J.A.C. 16:25-9.2, wishing to conduct work on, under or above the roadway or adjacent to the roadway to contact the Traffic Unit of the Police Department to arrange a preconstruction meeting in order to submit plans for the safe movement of traffic during such period of construction of work. Any person, contractor or utility who fails to comply with this section prior to the start of such work or whose plans are not approved by the Traffic Unit of the Police Department is in violation of this section. ('74 Code, § 122-30.91)
(C) Emergency contact phone numbers. The person, contractor or utility shall provide the Traffic Unit with at least two emergency contact phone numbers to be called in case of emergency problems at the construction or maintenance site prior to the start of any work. If for any reason emergency contacts cannot be reached or if the emergency contact person does not respond to a call from the Police Department to correct a hazardous condition, the Township may, but is not required to, correct such hazardous condition. The reasonable fees for such emergency services by the Township shall be charged to the person, contractor or utility responsible for such condition. ('74 Code, § 122-30.92)
(D) Time limits. There shall be no construction, maintenance operations or utility work on any residential roadway in the Township before the hour of 7:00 a.m. or after 10:00 p.m. This time limit may be adjusted to permit work prior to 7:00 a.m. or after 10:00 p.m. by the officer in charge of the Traffic Unit of the Police Department. If it is determined by the officer in charge of the Police Traffic Unit that the construction or maintenance operations prior to 7:00 a.m. or after 10:00 p.m., would substantially delay traffic or cause a safety or health hazard, the work is deemed to be performed during a certain time frame. Emergency work performed for the immediate safety, health or welfare of the community of individuals of the community or to restore property to a safe condition follow a public calamity shall not be subject to the provisions of this chapter. ('74 Code, § 122-30.93)
(E) Road closings; detours. Road closings and/or traffic detours shall not be permitted unless approved by the Police Traffic Unit. County and state roadways shall not be detoured onto municipal roadways, unless during an emergency road closure. Any planned roadwork, which requires a detour on a county roadway or State highway shall only be detoured to county roadways or State highways; unless approved by the Police Department during an emergency. Municipal roadways may be detoured to other municipal roadways, county roadways, and state highways. At no time shall a road closure detour onto private property unless an active emergency or to preserve a crime scene. ('74 Code, § 122-30.94)
(F) Traffic directors. Traffic directors shall be posted at all construction or maintenance sites when determined by the Police Traffic Unit that the same is necessary to provide for the safe and expeditious movement of traffic. ('74 Code, § 122-30.95)
(G) Stop work. The Traffic Unit of the Police Department shall have the authority to stop work, including the removal of equipment, vehicles, and the stored material within the street right-of-way, the backfilling of open excavations and/or other related work, in order to abate any nuisance and/or safety hazard or for any violation of this section. ('74 Code, § 122-30.96)
(Ord. 683-1993, passed 12-13-93; Am. Ord. 2007-2012, passed 2-27-12; Am. Ord. 389-21, passed 10-12-21) Penalty, see § 70.99