Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 18, September 16, 2024
(a)
Encasement is required for all utility facility crossings directly under State
highways unless a waiver is approved by the Department pursuant to
N.J.A.C.
16:25-13.2.
(b) Casings shall also be used for, but not
limited to, the following conditions:
1. As an
expediency for the insertion, removal, replacement, or maintenance of carrier pipe
crossings of highways and at other locations where it is necessary to avoid open
trenched construction;
2. When
protection for carrier pipes from external loads or shock, either during or after
construction of the highway is required;
3. When a means of conveying leaking fluids or
gases away from the area directly beneath the traveled way to a point of venting at
or near the right-of-way line or to a point of drainage in the highway ditch or a
natural drainage way is required;
4.
When protection of coated carrier pipes is required;
5. When less than minimum bury depth is
unavoidable;
6. Near footings of bridges
or other highway structures or across unstable or subsiding ground;
7. Near other locations where there may be a
hazard; and
8. On structures that cross
environmentally sensitive streams, riparian areas, wetlands, protected species
habitat or other protected environmental features.
(c) Casings shall be designed in accordance with
the following requirements:
1. To support the load
of the highway and superimposed loads thereon, and at a minimum, the casing shall
equal the structural requirements for highway drainage facilities;
2. Be composed of material of satisfactory
durability for the conditions to which they may be exposed;
3. Extend a suitable distance beyond the slope or
ditch lines. Where appropriate, extend the casing to the access control lines, to
the outside of frontage roads, to outside the outer curbs on curbed highways or to
an indicated line that allows for future widening of the highway without the need
for any utility adjustment;
4. The
casing ends sealed with a flexible material to prevent flowing water and debris from
entering the annular space between the casing and the carrier. All necessary
appurtenances shall be included; and
5.
If required by engineering practice or industry standards, provided with cathodic
protection anti-corrosion systems. The carrier and casing pipes shall be effectively
insulated from each other, cathodically protected as a unit, or provided with
alternative protection.
(d)
The carrier pipe for approved uncased pipeline installations shall conform to the
most current applicable material and design requirements of utility industry and
governmental codes and specifications and be designed to support the load of the
highway plus the superimposed loads thereon when the pipe is operated under all
ranges of pressure from maximum internal to zero pressure.
(e) Required additional mechanical protection to
an approved uncased pipeline crossing a highway is as follows:
1. Uncased carrier pipelines shall require a
higher factor of safety in the location, design, construction, and testing,
including such features as increased depth of cover, thicker wall pipe, radiograph
testing of welds, hydrostatic testing, coating and wrapping, and cathodic
protection.
2. Uncased crossings of
welded steel pipelines that carry flammable, corrosive, expansive, energized, or
unstable materials may be permitted, provided additional protective measures are
taken.
(f) For Department
projects, if it has been determined that both cased and uncased utility crossing
alternatives are technically acceptable, the most economical alternative shall be
considered. If the utility elects to advance a betterment or a more costly
alternative, the utility is responsible for the cost differential.
