HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT Policies and Procedures Manual La Crosse County, Wisconsin March 2021 Highway Department Policies and Procedures Manual La Crosse County, Wisconsin Approved by the La Crosse County Highway Department and the Public Works & Infrastructure Committee ------ March 8, 2021 Disclaimer This manual was prepared to summarize the policies and procedures of the La Crosse County Highway Department. It is intended to be a living document that conveys the Highway Department procedures that relate to or directly impact the County Highway system. Most sections in this manual reference specific laws, rules, and regulations including, but not limited to, the Wisconsin State Statutes and the La Crosse County Code of Ordinances. This manual is not intended to be a substitute for the specific laws and regulations contained in those or any other documents. The La Crosse County Highway Department and Public Works & Infrastructure Committee reserves the right to review and revise the policies and procedures in this manual. At a minimum, this document will be reviewed on an annual basis (March of each year) and will be updated accordingly to reflect changes to ordinances, State Statutes, State Administrative Code, and other relevant rules and regulations. The Highway Department and Public Works & Infrastructure Committee also reserves the right to make decisions on a case-by-case basis regarding issues that are not contained in this manual. Prepared by La Crosse County Highway Department Policies and Procedures Manual Table of Contents 3.4.4 Removal of Noncompliant Structures ...................................... 8 3.5 Right-of-Way Encroachments ............................. 10 3.5.1 Plantings, Crops, and Other Vegetation ................................ 12 1 Introduction ........................................... 1 3.5.2 Trees ..................................................................................... 12 1.1 Purpose of the Manual............................................ 1 3.5.3 Fences ................................................................................... 13 1.2 General Maintenance Activities ............................. 1 3.5.4 Mailboxes .............................................................................. 16 1.3 Public Works & Infrastructure Committee ............ 3 3.5.5 Headwall Structures .............................................................. 19 1.4 Highway Department .............................................. 3 3.5.6 Refuse Containers ................................................................. 19 1.4.1 Highway Commissioner ........................................................... 3 3.5.7 Memorials .............................................................................. 19 1.4.2 Contact Information ................................................................. 3 3.5.8 Miscellaneous Signs .............................................................. 19 1.5 Procurement ............................................................ 3 3.5.9 Manure Pipelines ................................................................... 20 2 County Trunk Highway System ............ 4 4 Elements Relating to Safety ............... 21 2.1 Purpose ................................................................... 4 4.1 Signing .................................................................. 21 4.1.1 Manuals for Uniform Traffic Control Devices ......................... 21 2.2 Jurisdiction ............................................................. 4 4.1.2 Sign Requests ....................................................................... 21 2.2.1 Cooperative Agreements ......................................................... 4 4.2 Speed Limits ......................................................... 21 2.3 Classes of Highways .............................................. 4 4.3 Intersection Control ............................................. 21 2.4 Functional Classification ........................................ 5 2.4.1 Rural vs. Urban ....................................................................... 5 4.4 Work Zone Safety ................................................. 24 2.4.2 Accessibility vs. Mobility .......................................................... 5 4.4.1 No Handheld Mobile Devices in Work Zones ........................ 24 4.4.2 Temporary Traffic Control ...................................................... 24 3 Public Right-of-Way .............................. 7 4.4.3 Safety Apparel ....................................................................... 24 3.1 Purpose ................................................................... 7 4.4.4 Flagging Operations .............................................................. 24 3.2 County Highway Right-of-Way ............................... 7 4.5 Use of Video Cameras in Highway Vehicles ....... 25 3.2.1 Locating Right-of-Way Boundaries .......................................... 7 4.5.1 Placement of Cameras .......................................................... 25 3.2.2 Work Within Right-of-Way ....................................................... 7 4.5.2 Retention of Video Recordings .............................................. 25 3.3 Vision Clearance ..................................................... 7 5 Utility Accommodations ..................... 26 3.4 Highway Setbacks .................................................. 8 5.1 Purpose ................................................................. 26 3.4.1 Setback Distances ................................................................... 8 5.2 Utility Accommodation Requirements ................ 26 3.4.2 Structures Allowed Within Highway Setbacks ......................... 8 5.2.1 Utility Permit .......................................................................... 26 3.4.3 Structures Prohibited Within Highway Setbacks...................... 8 ii La Crosse County Highway Department Policies and Procedures Manual 5.2.2 Coordination with Planned Improvements ............................. 26 8.4 Typical Maintenance Activities ............................ 37 5.3 Preferred Utility Accommodations ...................... 27 8.4.1 Crack Sealing ........................................................................ 38 5.4 Authority to Enforce Policy .................................. 27 8.4.2 Minor Patching ....................................................................... 38 5.4.1 Failure to Comply .................................................................. 27 8.4.3 Chip Seal Coating .................................................................. 39 8.4.4 Mill and Overlay ..................................................................... 39 6 Driveway Permits ................................. 29 8.4.5 Asphalt Pulverizing ................................................................ 39 6.1 Purpose ................................................................. 29 8.4.6 Cold In-Place Recycling......................................................... 39 6.2 Permit Process ...................................................... 29 8.4.7 Reconstruction ....................................................................... 40 6.3 Design Guidelines ................................................. 29 8.4.8 Lane Wedging ....................................................................... 40 6.4 Construction Guidelines ...................................... 30 8.4.9 Shoulder Paving Policy .......................................................... 40 6.5 Appeal Process ..................................................... 30 8.5 Liability ................................................................. 40 7 Winter Maintenance ............................. 33 9 Bridge Program ................................... 41 7.1 Purpose ................................................................. 33 9.1 Purpose ................................................................. 41 7.2 Winter Maintenance Procedures .......................... 33 9.2 Inspection Process .............................................. 41 7.2.1 Anti-Icing ............................................................................... 33 9.2.1 Visual Inspections .................................................................. 41 7.2.2 Decision to Begin Snow Removal ......................................... 33 9.2.2 Bridge Maintenance ............................................................... 41 7.2.3 Snow Removal Methods ....................................................... 33 9.3 County Bridge Aid ................................................ 42 7.2.4 Hours of Service .................................................................... 34 9.3.1 Application Process ............................................................... 42 7.3 Road Conditions ................................................... 34 9.3.2 County Bridge Aid on Federal Aid Projects............................ 42 7.3.1 Snow Emergency .................................................................. 34 9.3.3 Concurrent Action .................................................................. 42 7.4 Stalled Vehicles .................................................... 34 10 Road Debris and Obstructions ........... 43 7.5 Damaged Mailboxes ............................................. 34 10.1 Purpose ................................................................. 43 8 Pavement Management ....................... 35 10.2 Debris and Obstructions .....................................