Bridge Expansion Joint for Bridges Near Underground Utilities

Bridge expansion joints near underground utilities must be designed to avoid damaging the utilities during installation and maintenance. The utility locations must be identified before any excavation or drilling is performed. Utility identification before joint installation requires a survey of the underground utilities in the area. The survey must identify the location, depth, and type of all utilities within the construction zone. Utility maps from the utility operators must be obtained and verified by ground-penetrating radar or vacuum excavation. Utility protection during joint installation requires the utilities to be protected from damage by the construction activities. Utilities that are within the construction zone must be protected by hand excavation, shoring, or relocation. The protection measures must be approved by the utility operator before construction begins. Anchor bolt installation near underground utilities requires careful drilling to avoid damaging the utilities. The drilling must be performed by hand or with a small drill if utilities are present in the drilling zone. The drilling must be stopped immediately if a utility is encountered. Maintenance activities near underground utilities require the same precautions as installation activities. The utility locations must be verified before any excavation or drilling is performed for maintenance. The utility operators must be notified before any maintenance activities that could affect the utilities. Emergency procedures for utility damage during joint installation or maintenance must be developed before the work begins. The procedures must define the actions to be taken if a utility is damaged, including the notification of the utility operator and the emergency shutdown of the utility if required.