045-4 Wyo. Code R. §§ 4-5 - Access to a Facility Within a Fully Access Controlled Road

(a) If the Department approves a request for parallel encroachment within a fully access controlled right-of-way, the following steps shall be taken by the Department or Utility Company as applicable:

(i) The Department may, if deemed necessary, establish a new no-access line between the outer limits of the right-of-way and the traveled lanes of the highway that will encompass the proposed utility facility, creating a utility corridor.

(ii) On establishment of a utility corridor, the Department shall designate specific points of access and egress to the corridor for use by the utility company during construction and maintenance of the facility. Whenever possible, such access points shall begin and terminate at existing interchanges or intersecting roads and be tied to the ramps or crossroads.

(iii) If no interchanges or intersecting roads exist in the vicinity of the proposed utility encroachment and access/egress for construction purposes must be provided from the through traveled lanes, the Department, workload permitting and at the expense of the applicant, shall conduct or supervise the design of temporary access from the traveled lanes to the proposed work site.

(iv) The applicant or its contractor shall construct and ultimately remove any temporary access, provide safety signing and traffic control, and restore the disturbed area within the highway right-of-way in accordance with current Department specifications and under the supervision of Department personnel.

(b) If the utility requires permanent access to the facility for inspection or maintenance and no interchanges or crossroads are located nearby, the utility shall negotiate an access easement with the adjacent landowner. The access point shall be designated by the Department and a locked gate installed for the utility's access to the facility.

(c) In extreme cases, a permanent approach to the facility or utility corridor may be considered if no other access can be established, and design standards and safety requirements can be met.

(d) In no case shall the utility or its contractor access the facility by leaving or entering the traveled lanes of the road by driving off the shoulder of the roadway. Neither the utility company nor its contractor shall use the shoulder or the clear zone for parking equipment or vehicles.

(e) In no case, whether during construction or maintenance activities, shall personnel of the utility or its contractor cross the median of a divided road or make U-turns across the traveled lanes of any roadway to access the utility's facility or construction site.

(f) If access to the facility requires a change in direction of travel for construction equipment, this access shall be accomplished at locations designated by the Department and in compliance with applicable safety requirements.

Notes

045-4 Wyo. Code R. §§ 4-5