| Notice Filed with SOS |
02/27/2009 |
| Rule |
ProposedRuleAttach2009-00139.DOC |
| Additional Information |
AddInfoAttach2009-00139.DOC |
| Statutory Authority |
43-1-225 (1) CRS |
| Description of Subjects/Issues |
New rule for the purpose of accomodating utilities in the state highway rights of way. |
| Purpose/Objective of Rule |
To improve worker safety by establishing higher minimum clearances for transverse aerial utility crossings of State Highways. On average, CDOT issued 51 permits for overhead Rural Electric Association (REA) utility line highway crossings in each of the last five years. Since two CDOT employees died as a direct result of electrocution after coming into contact with overhead electrical utility lines in the past twenty-six years with one such fatality in the last two years; CDOT is requesting that the vertical clearance for transverse utility line crossings over CDOT roadways be increased from the current minimum of 20.5 feet to 24.0 feet to improve worker safety.
The L150 Volvo, a five cubic yard front-end loader, and various models of twelve cubic yard dump trucks are the most common pieces of equipment currently used within CDOT right-of-way during normal maintenance operations. During a normal loading operation, the L150 Volvo loader bucket can reach heights of up to 23 feet 9 inches, and during normal dumping operations, the dump trucks can reach heights of 22 feet 6 inches. Therefore, minimum vertical utility line roadway clearances have been recommended to be raised to 24 feet to eliminate direct contact with electric utility lines. There has been no change from the current vertical clearance minimum of 20 feet for longitudinal installations since they are required to be as close to the edge of the right-of-way as possible. Section 9-2.5-102(1), Colorado Revised Statutes (CRS), requires all electric utility lines with less than ten feet of overhead vertical clearance between operated equipment and those lines to be effectively shielded. A tractor with lowboy trailer simply hauling the L150 loader to, from or on the jobsite require effective shielding of every overhead electric utility line whose overhead vertical clearance is less than 24 feet. |
| Regulatory analysis |
RegulatoryAnalysisAttachment2009-00139.DOC
|
| Submitted in response to issues raised by COLS/OLLS? |
No
|
| Is this rule adopted in response to recent legislation? |
|
| Hearing Date |
04/03/2009 |
| Hearing Time |
09:00 AM |
| Hearing Location |
CDOT, Auditorium, 4201 East Arkansas Ave, Denver, CO 80222 |
| Contact Name |
Teresa Lawser |
| Contact Title |
Rules Coordinator |
| Contact Telephone |
303-757-9843 |
| Contact email |
teresa.lawser@dot.state.co.us |