Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 24, December 18, 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.
