2019 -- H 5465

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LC001201

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO HIGHWAYS - CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF STATE

ROADS

     Introduced By: Representatives Jacquard, Bennett, Solomon, and Chippendale

     Date Introduced: February 14, 2019

     Referred To: House Corporations

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 24-5-1.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 24-5 entitled

"Maintenance of Town Highways" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     24-5-1.1. Alteration of roadways.

     (a) Any person, firm, or corporation including utilities and contractors who alter a

roadway that is subject to the provisions of this chapter shall restore that portion of the roadway

which was altered to the same or better condition that existed prior to alteration.

     (b) Municipalities shall adopt by ordinance standards for use of steel plates on municipal

roadways which shall, at a minimum, require compliance with the provisions specified in § 24-8-

45.

     SECTION 2. Chapter 24-8 of the General Laws entitled "Construction and Maintenance

of State Roads" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     24-8-45. Steel plate use.

     (a) The director of the department of transportation shall establish rules and regulations

for the use of steel plates on roadway surfaces used to protect an excavation. At a minimum the

rules and regulations shall require steel plates designed for the safety of vehicles and pedestrians

to include:

     (1) Steel plates shall withstand traffic loading without movement;

     (2) When two (2) or more steel plates are used, the plates shall be welded in a manner to

eliminate vertical movement;

     (3) All steel plates shall be marked with the utility or contractor name and contact

information;

     (4) Steel plates shall be installed to extend a minimum of twelve inches (12") beyond the

edge of the excavation;

     (5) Temporary paving with a cold asphalt mix shall be used to feather the edges of the

plate to form a wedged taper to cover the edges of the steel plate;

     (6) Each corner of the steel plate shall be marked with durable and highly reflective white

pavement marking tape no less than four inches (4") in width;

     (7) The exposed surface area of the steel plate shall have friction coefficient equal to the

street surface friction coefficient; and

     (8) All signage advising motorist of the steel plate shall be in compliance with the current

addition of the manual on uniform traffic control devices.

     (b) The director of the department of transportation may authorize use of steel plates on

roadway surfaces which fail to comply with subsection (a) of this section in an emergency

situation or for public safety purposes.

     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO HIGHWAYS - CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF STATE

ROADS

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     This act would require that the director of transportation establish rules, regulations, and

minimum requirements for the use of steel plates on roadway surfaces. The act would also require

that municipalities adopt by ordinance the state standards for steel plate use on municipal

roadways.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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