New Jersey Administrative Code
Title 16 - TRANSPORTATION
Chapter 25 - UTILITY ACCOMMODATION
Subchapter 3 - HIGHWAY OCCUPANCY PERMITS
Section 16:25-3.2 - Bury

(a) The critical controls for the depth pipeline crossings are buried are the low points in the highway cross-section. Usually these are the bottoms of the longitudinal ditches.

(b) In establishing the bury below an unpaved ditch, consideration should be given to potential increases in ditch depth resulting from scour, ditch maintenance operations, or the need to increase the capacity of the ditch.

(c) On longitudinal installations, the critical controls for bury are the depths of lateral drainage facilities, landscaping, other buried utility lines, bridge structures, and likely highway maintenance operations.

(d) The depth of frost penetration should be taken into consideration in determining the bury. The bury shall be sufficient so that the liquid transmitted will not freeze. In addition, the depth shall be sufficient to withstand the greatly increased impact loads transmitted through the frozen soil.

(e) Pipelines shall be buried a minimum of 36 inches (900 mm); however, special consideration shall be given on the basis of engineering and safety factors for the area, the product carried, and maximum working or test pressures for the pipelines before varying from minimum depth.

(f) The bury for pipelines carrying transmittants which are flammable, corrosive, expansive, energized, or unstable, particularly if carried at high pressure or potential, must not be reduced below acceptable safety limits.

(g) Where less than minimum bury is made necessary because of other utilities, water table, ordinances, or similar reasons, the pipe shall be rerouted or else protected in a suitable manner approved by the Department using the special considerations listed in (e) above.