Section 530.450  Above-Ground Facilities – Power and Communication Lines

a)         General

            An application for a permit for a new power or communication installation system shall include evidence, if required, that a "Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity" has been issued by the Illinois Commerce Commission. Electric power or communications installations on State highway right-of-way shall be constructed, operated, and maintained in conformity with the provisions of the National Electrical Safety Code and Illinois Commerce Commission's rules entitled, "Construction of Electric Power and Communication Lines" (83 Ill. Adm. Code 305) except for certain vertical clearance requirements as hereinafter noted.

1)         Ground Mounted Appurtenances

            Ground mounted appurtenances shall be provided with a vegetation-free area extending one foot beyond the appurtenance in all directions.  The vegetation-free area may be provided by an extension of the mounting pad, or by heavy duty plastic or similar material.  With the approval of the District Engineer, shrubbery surrounding the appurtenance may be used in place of vegetation-free area.  The housing for ground mounted appurtenances shall be painted an inconspicuous color.

2)         Guy Wires and Brace Posts

A)        Guys and braces will not be allowed on the right-of-way.

B)        When a variance is allowed, in accordance with Section 530.130, guy wires shall be equipped with guy guards for maximum visibility.

b)         Fully Access-controlled Highways

1)         Longitudinal Lines

A)        Longitudinal pole lines will not be permitted within the access-control lines of fully access-controlled highways except existing installations that can be serviced without access from the through traffic roadway or ramps.

B)        Longitudinal pole lines may be permitted outside the access-control lines of fully access-controlled highways where frontage roads or other corridors provide access for servicing the installation and overhanging of the access-control line is minimal.

2)         Overhead Crossings

A)        Overhead crossings of power and communication lines over fully access-controlled highways shall provide a minimal vertical clearance over the roadway of 20 feet with additional clearances as required by Illinois Commerce Commission's rules entitled, "Construction of Electric Power and Communication Lines" (83 Ill. Adm. Code 305) for higher voltage lines.  Where practicable, the crossing shall span the entire right-of-way with no poles, guys, or appurtenances within the access-control lines.

B)        Supporting poles shall be in compliance with the latest AASHTO "A Policy on the Accommodation of Utilities Within Freeway Right-of-Way," incorporated by reference in Section 530.20, and the minimum offset allowable to the tower or pole shall be in accordance with the clear zone as provided in the latest AASHTO Roadside Design Guide, incorporated by reference in Section 530.20.

C)        Overhead crossings of interchanges that would require poles, towers, guy wires or brace posts within the interchange will normally not be permitted except in cases of extreme need.  The installation shall be in compliance with the latest AASHTO "A Policy on the Accommodation of Utilities Within Freeway Right-of-Way," incorporated by reference in Section 530.20, and the minimum offset allowable to the tower or pole shall be in accordance with the clear zone as provided in the latest AASHTO Roadside Design Guide, incorporated by reference in Section 530.20.

D)        Overhead crossings shall be transmission or distribution lines serving a general area or to serve a developing area.  No individual service crossings will be permitted to cross a fully access-controlled highway except involving isolated locations such as landlocked areas.

c)         Conventional Highways

1)         Longitudinal Lines

A)        Overhead power and communication lines longitudinal to the centerline of conventional State highways shall be of single pole construction located as near as practicable to the right-of-way line and as nearly parallel to the right-of-way line as reasonable pole alignment will permit.

i)          In urban areas, where pavement is curbed, poles are to be as remote as practicable from the curb with a minimum distance of 1.5 feet behind the face of the curb.

ii)         In urban areas, where pavement is uncurbed, poles shall be as remote from the pavement as practicable with a minimum distance of four feet outside the outer shoulder line of the roadway and not within the clear zone.

B)        Joint use of poles will be required where practical.

C)        No utility poles will be permitted in the ditch line of any State highway.

D)        Ground-mounted appurtenances to electric power or communication lines shall be located within one foot of the right-of-way line or as near as practicable.

2)         Overhead Crossings

A)        Overhead power and communication lines crossing conventional highways shall have a minimum vertical line clearance over the roadway of 18 feet with additional clearances as required by Illinois Commerce Commission's rules entitled, "Construction of Electric Power and Communication Lines" (83 Ill. Adm. Code 305) for higher voltage lines.

B)        Poles shall be located within one foot of the right-of-way of the highway and outside of the clear zone.

C)        Overhead crossings at major interchanges will be discouraged.

D)        In expanding areas, frequent service crossings will be discouraged in favor of requiring distribution systems on both sides of the highway.