JoelTXCive
Civil/Environmental
- Jul 24, 2016
- 933
We are providing extensive aesthetic improvements to an existing bridge & roadway crossing.
The improvements include cantilever retaining walls ranging from 4ft tall to 20ft tall, along with 20ft tall planter boxes supported by drilled shafts.
We have received the utility layouts from the various utilities crossing through the intersection and it looks like spaghetti underground. There are multiple gas lines, water lines, sewer lines, fiber etc..
Many of the lines are 30+ years old and the survey data is poor. All of these utilities are in the client's right of way, so there are no defined easements.
I recommended that we needed a Level A SUE; and that our proposed improvement follow the following guidelines:
[ul]
[li]Minimum 5ft horizontal stand-off distance from any utility unless we have precise surveyed location of the utility in the horizontal and vertical planes.[/li]
[li]Minimum 5ft of fill between any shallow footing and utility. If this cannot be achieved, then we need to span our retaining wall footings over the utility with void forms etc..[/li]
[li]No drilled shafts directly above utilities, even if the utility is super deep.[/li]
[/ul]
My recommendations went over like a turd in a punch bowl with the landscape architects and the client.
Is there any guidance out there with recommended stand-off distances from utilities? Maybe an AASHTO document? Or, is it just engineering judgement?
The improvements include cantilever retaining walls ranging from 4ft tall to 20ft tall, along with 20ft tall planter boxes supported by drilled shafts.
We have received the utility layouts from the various utilities crossing through the intersection and it looks like spaghetti underground. There are multiple gas lines, water lines, sewer lines, fiber etc..
Many of the lines are 30+ years old and the survey data is poor. All of these utilities are in the client's right of way, so there are no defined easements.
I recommended that we needed a Level A SUE; and that our proposed improvement follow the following guidelines:
[ul]
[li]Minimum 5ft horizontal stand-off distance from any utility unless we have precise surveyed location of the utility in the horizontal and vertical planes.[/li]
[li]Minimum 5ft of fill between any shallow footing and utility. If this cannot be achieved, then we need to span our retaining wall footings over the utility with void forms etc..[/li]
[li]No drilled shafts directly above utilities, even if the utility is super deep.[/li]
[/ul]
My recommendations went over like a turd in a punch bowl with the landscape architects and the client.
Is there any guidance out there with recommended stand-off distances from utilities? Maybe an AASHTO document? Or, is it just engineering judgement?
