A. Aboveground utilities. All aboveground utility installations should be in accordance with the standards established by the New Jersey Department of Transportation for utility accommodation in Chapter 25 of the New Jersey Administrative Code. Utility companies should contact the township prior to poles being relocated or new poles installed to make sure that installations will not conflict with future road improvements.

B. Removal of existing features. The existing pavement, blacktop or concrete shall be cut in a straight line or lines, prior to any subsurface excavation, which shall be confined to the area between the cuts. If pavement, curbing, sidewalk, or other surface construction becomes damaged, ragged or zig-zagged when it comes time to repave or replace the facility, the edges shall be cut or recut in a straight line or lines to the satisfaction of the township, in general parallel with the lines of the excavated trenches and in a width sufficient to accommodate the entire excavation and to create a smooth finished appearance when the construction is completed.

C. Curbs, sidewalks, driveways, etc. Where the opening involves cutting through existing curbs, sidewalks, driveways and any other surface structures, the permittee/contractor shall rebuild or replace such surface structures as closely as possible duplicating the original as to dimensions, grade, appearance and materials. Curbs, sidewalks, concrete aprons and other miscellaneous structures shall be reconstructed with NJDOT Class "B" concrete.

D. Existing pipes, utilities, subsurface structures. Any existing subsurface pipes, utility lines, drains, foundations, abutments, inlets or other structures that may be disturbed, damaged, or removed during the necessary opening work are to be replaced, reconstructed or repaired under the direction of the township and the appropriate officials of the utility company whose facility may be involved. Such replacement, reconstruction or repair shall be made using materials, methods and standards of workmanship as specified by the township, or, in the case of a public utility facility, to the standards imposed by said utility. Caution and care shall be exercised by the permittee/contractor not to disturb such existing structures or facilities exposed by the opening and found to be in or adjacent to the opening.

E. Tunneling. In cases where it becomes necessary to resort to tunneling operations to accomplish the opening work in a most practical way, then the backfill in such tunnel shall be rammed soil composed of a mixture by volume of one part cement to six parts of aggregate material such as sand or three-quarter-inch quarry blend stone. Tunneling shall be permitted only with the approval of the township and when the need for tunneling is indicated on the application for permit. Jacking or drilling is not considered to be tunneling.

F. Jacking and drilling. Jacking and drilling will be permitted when the need is indicated and when the applicant's engineer certifies that in his opinion other existing structures or utilities will not be disturbed or damaged thereby.

G. Blasting. No blasting shall be allowed unless the township is notified in advance. Blasting and the use of explosives shall be permitted provided that all aspects of blasting and the use and storage of explosives shall, at all times, be in accordance with the provisions of the Explosives Act (N.J.S.A. 2 1: 1 A- 128 et seq.).

H. Surplus materials. The permittee/contractor shall remove all surplus or unusable fill, debris and other materials from the job site at his own expense. The area shall be cleaned up and restored at the end of the work, to the satisfaction of the township. Machinery, vehicles and tools of the permittee/contractor shall be promptly removed from the job site when the work has been completed.

I. Excavation.

(1) The trench shall be excavated along the lines designated on the approved plans and to a depth sufficient to provide cover over the mains of not less than four feet, except where greater or lesser depths of cover are shown on the detailed plans or are necessary due to the existence of utilities or to connect to existing lines. The trench shall be not less than one foot and no more than two feet wider at the bottom than the outside diameter of the pipe. Where the trench is excavated at any place below the proper grade, excepting at joints, it shall be refilled to grade with sand or loam and thoroughly compacted.

(2) No more than 100 feet of trench will be opened in advance of the utility installation, unless permitted by the township's inspector. All open trenches shall be backfilled by the end of the work day.

(3) The material excavated shall be laid compactly on the side of the trench and kept trimmed up so that it will be of as little inconvenience as possible to the traveling public and to adjoining tenants. Where the streets are paved, the paving material shall be kept separate from the other materials excavated. All streets shall be kept open for travel unless otherwise approved by the township.

J. Sheeting and bracing.

(1) The permittee/contractor is solely responsible for the safety of the job site. The permittee/contractor shall furnish, put in place and maintain such sheeting and bracing, etc., as may be required to support the sides of the excavation and to prevent any movement of earth which could in any way diminish the width of the excavation below that necessary for proper construction.

(2) All trenching operations will comply with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations 29 CFR 1926. 1. Safety requirements and precautions for excavations will be implemented prior to that work being commenced.

K. Temporary trench plating.

(1) All temporary trench plating shall be designed to carry all legal highway loads. The plating shall be properly supported and anchored to prevent all movement. All plating intended to be left in place overnight shall be recessed into the adjoining pavement so that the top surface of the plating is flush with the pavement.

(2) Construction signs will be installed on both approaches warning the motorists of the temporary plating and that it is slippery when wet.

L. Backfilling.

(1) Backfilling for utility improvements in pavement areas and shoulders or within five feet of the edge of any proposed pavement will be with dense graded aggregate base placed in six-inch lifts. Each layer shall be compacted with flat-face mechanical tampers to 95% minimum dry density. If the pipe area is not to be paved, the dense graded aggregate will be filled to the finished pavement grade.

(2) The only methods of compacting the backfill material permitted shall be mechanical compaction in lifts as specified. Consolidation will not be acceptable as a method to achieve the soil densities specified.

(3) The township may require or perform soil density checks at randomly chosen lifts. Density testing will be performed at the completion of the compaction effort. Compaction requirements will be strictly enforced. The cost for compaction testing shall be the responsibility of the permittee.

M. Trench restoration.

(1) Bituminous concrete and bituminous surface treated pavements. In bituminous concrete and bituminous surface treated pavements, the trench area will be restored with a five-inch bituminous concrete base course and a two-inch bituminous concrete surface course. In areas where the pavement is thicker than six inches, additional bituminous base shall be placed to the depth of the existing pavement. The bituminous concrete repair shall extend at least six inches outside the limits of the trench.

(2) Portland cement concrete pavements.

(a) In Portland cement concrete pavements and in roads with Portland cement concrete bases, the pavement shall be replaced with the same materials and in the same thickness. When the trench opening is within five feet of a transverse joint, the remaining section of the slab shall be removed and replaced.

(b) Care shall be taken to protect expansion joint dowels. Dowels shall be straightened after concrete removal, if disturbed. The existing expansion joint material shall be replaced prior to placing new concrete.

(c) Existing subgrade is to be brought back to proper grade and properly compacted. Any soft areas are to be removed and replaced with proper material.

(d) If the slab removal ends prior to a joint, number five bars, 18 inches long, are to be drilled and grouted in the center of the slab. Bar spacing will be six inches from the slab edge and 12 inches between bars. The new slab reinforcing steel shall be number four bars, 12 inches on center longitudinally and number four bars, 24 inches on center transversely (minimum of two), set approximately three inches below the top of the finished slab.

N. Unimproved shoulder areas.

(1) Trenches outside the pavement which are required to be backfilled with dense graded aggregate base material shall be brought up to the finished shoulder grade and uniformly compacted.

(2) Trenches not requiring dense graded aggregate may be backfilled with suitable material and properly compacted. The final four inches to six inches of the trench shall be backfilled with topsoil, compacted, seeded, fertilized and mulched.

O. Temporary surfacing. Pending the actual repaving or reconstruction operations stated above, the permittee/contractor shall provide a temporary pavement or surface over the compacted refilled opening, of such material as shall be directed by the township. The permittee shall maintain, refill and temporarily repave said surface from time to time as may be required by the township until a permanent pavement has been constructed to provide a properly graded traveling surface.

P. All improvements shall be constructed in accordance with the New Jersey Department of Transportation Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction.