[Ord. No. 2006-18 § 1]
The Township Committee hereby finds and declares that problems
of traffic control occur when traffic must be moved through or around
street construction, maintenance operation, and utility work, above
and below ground which requires blocking the roadway and obstructing
the normal flow of traffic; and that such obstructions are or can
become dangerous when not properly controlled. In order to better
promote the public health, safety, peace and welfare, it is necessary
to establish controls and regulations directed to the safe and expeditious
movement of traffic through construction and maintenance zones and
to provide safety for the work force performing these operations.
The Township of Chatham in the County of Morris, State of New
Jersey, does hereby adopt the current Manual on Uniform Traffic Control
Devices for Streets and Highways, hereafter known as M.U.T.C.D., except
as hereby supplemented and amended, as it controls and regulates whenever
construction maintenance operations of utility work obstructs the
normal flow of traffic. Any person, contractor, or utility who fails
to comply with the provisions of the M.U.T.C.D. while performing such
work is in violation of this part.
[Ord. No. 2006-18 § 1]
It shall be the responsibility of the person, contractor, or
in the case of a public utility as required under the public utility
agreement, wishing to conduct work on, under, or above the roadway
to connect the Traffic Safety Unit of the Chatham Township Police
Department in order to arrange a preconstruction meeting to submit
plans for the safe movement of traffic during such period of construction
activity. Any person, contractor or utility who fails to comply with
this section prior to the start of such work or whose plans are not
approved by the Traffic Safety Unit of the Police Department is in
violation of this part.
[Ord. No. 2006-18 § 1]
The person, contractor, or utility, prior to the start of any
work, shall provide the Traffic Safety Unit of the Police Department
with at least two emergency contact phone numbers to be called in
case of emergency problems at the construction or maintenance site.
If for any reason emergency contacts cannot be reached, or if the
emergency contact person does not respond to the call from the Police
Department to correct such hazardous conditions within one hour of
notification, the Township may respond to correct such hazardous condition.
The reasonable fees for such emergency service by the Township shall
be charged to the person, contractor, or utility responsible for such
hazardous conditions.
[Ord. No. 2006-18 § 1]
There shall be no construction, maintenance operations, or utility
work on any roadway in the Township before the hour of 9:00 a.m. or
after 4:00 p.m. This time limit may be adjusted to permit work to
prior to 9:00 a.m. or after 4:00 p.m. by the officer in charge of
the Traffic Safety Unit of the Chatham Township Police Department.
If it is determined by the officer in charge of the Traffic Safety
Unit that the construction or maintenance operations prior to 9:00
a.m. or after 4:00 p.m. would substantially delay traffic or cause
a safety or health hazard, the work shall then be permitted only between
9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
[Ord. No. 2006-18 § 1]
Road closings and/or traffic detours and diversions shall not
be permitted unless approved by the Chatham Township Police Department
(Traffic Safety Unit).
[Ord. No. 2006-18 § 1]
Traffic directors shall be posted at all construction or maintenance
sites when determined by the Chatham Township Police Department (Traffic
Safety Unit) that same is necessary to provide for the safe and expeditious
movement of traffic.
[Ord. No. 2006-18 § 1]
The Traffic Safety Unit of the Chatham Township Police Department
shall have the authority to stop work, including the removal of equipment
and vehicles, stored material within the street right-of-way, back
filling of open excavations and/or other related work, in order to
abate any nuisance and/or safety hazard or for any violation of the
part.
[Ord. No. 2006-18 § 1]
It is to be expressly understood that no materials, vehicles
or equipment are to be placed in the roadway or sidewalk area until
all construction signs, lights, devices, and pavement markings are
installed.
[Ord. No. 2006-18 § 1]
Any person, contractor or utility who commits a violation of
this part shall, upon conviction thereof for first offense pay a fine
of not less than $100 nor more than $500 and/or be imprisoned in the
County Jail for a term not exceeding 90 days. For a second offense,
upon conviction thereof, pay a fine of not less than $250 and/or be
imprisoned in the County Jail for a term not exceeding 90 days. For
a third offense, upon conviction thereof, pay a fine of not less than
$500 and/or be imprisoned in the County Jail for a term not exceeding
90 days. A separate offense shall be deemed committed on each day
during or on which a violation occurs or continues.
