19A NCAC 02E .0421      UTILITY WIRES OR CABLES OVER HIGHWAYS

(a)  For purposes of this Rule, the American National Standards Institute's National Electrical Safety Code (ANSI Code) is incorporated by reference and includes any subsequent amendments and editions. The ANSI Code may be obtained from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc., 445 Hoes Lane, P.O. Box 1331, Piscataway, New Jersey 08855-1331, telephone number 1-800-678-IEEE, website https://webstore.ansi.org, at a cost of forty-three dollars and fifty cents ($43.50).

(b)  It shall be unlawful to construct any power, telephone, television, telegraph, or any other utility wires or cables over highways or roads on the State Highway System unless such wires have the minimum vertical clearance above the highest elevation of the road or highway crossed by them as set forth in the ANSI Code for the installation and maintenance of electric supply and communication lines, except as set forth in Paragraph (c) of this Rule.

(c)  A minimum vertical clearance of 18 feet shall be maintained for overhead power and communication lines crossing all highways. The lateral and vertical clearance from bridges shall conform with the ANSI Code; however, greater clearances at bridges may be required by the Department of Transportation to provide for bridge construction and maintenance. Parallel utility lines occupying highway right-of-way shall maintain a minimum vertical clearance as required in the National Electrical Safety Code.

(d)  Rules for the preparation and submission of applications for utility encroachments can be found in 19A NCAC 02B .0500.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 136‑18(10); 136‑89.50; 136‑93;

Eff. July 1, 1978;

Amended Eff. November 1, 1993; November 1, 1991;

Readopted Eff. March 1, 2019.