Access to roads by various Utilities can be a bit chaotic without agreed codes and guidelines
An enquiry has been received by IFME on what guidelines or legislation may be available for allocating space in road reserves for various utilities - a good example of sharing practices through our International Federation.
A couple of examples include:
Australia
The NSW Streets Opening Coordinating Council (SOCC) is "a voluntary association of member organisations that have agreed to meet together for resolution of issues on a cooperative basis, respecting each member's rights and obligations in providing their respective services to the community.” It operates on the basis of guides and codes rather than legislation as each utility has their own legislation.
The latest version of the “Guide to Codes and Practices for Streets Opening” can be downloaded from the SOCC website.
The Sydney Streets Opening Conference was formed in 1909 to coordinate street openings in the City of Sydney in response to public frustration with the frequency of road and footpath opening. The Conference allowed utility and authority members to coordinate standards for road opening and restorations. In 2014 the Conference became an incorporated body and changed its name to the Streets Opening Coordination Council Incorporated.
Included in the 2009 Centenary edition, you will find guidelines and recommendations on:
- allocation of space in footways for both city and regional areas • use of shared trenching • Provision and selection of trees • use of Trenchless Techniques • Pre-construction planning • Excavation of carriageways and footways • backfilling and compaction • Provision for traffic and pedestrians • reinstatement of carriageways and footways • recording and identification of services
Their website has more information: http://www.streetsopening.com.au
New Zealand
The New Zealand Utilities Advisory Group Incorporated is a joint consultative group of road and rail owners/managers and utility companies working together to create outcomes to benefit all road users and communities.
This Groups website http://www.nzuag.org.nz provides information for those interested in issues relating to the road and rail corridors including information on NZUAG Inc, the National Code for Utililities' Access to the Transport Corridors (The Code) and related downloadable resources, news and events.
On the NZUAG website there is a link to the Utilities Access Act, which is the enabling legislation for access to the road corridor. There is also a link to the Code of Practice for Access to the Road Corridor by Utilities. In essence, under the COP, local government manages the access to road corridors by utilities. Utilities apply for access and the council sets the conditions. Note that council owned utilities (ie water, sewer, stormwater) need to apply in the same way that utility companies need to apply.
IFME welcome comments or links to other similar resources and practices