Posting and Bonding Local Roads

Posting and Bonding Local Roads

Protecting our roads and the large investment we have in our roads is essential. By implementing a posting and bonding program, we are doing just that -- protecting our roads from heavy loads and, if needed, from heavy hauling. Posting and Bonding can make sure that excess damage is paid for by the heavy haulers who have caused the damage.

Why Post and Bond a Road?

Posting and bonding of local roads involves two main ideas:

1) We are posting weight limits on certain roads or sections of roads that would suffer excessive damage by vehicles transporting weights over and above the posted limit.

2) Because heavy haulers may have to use these roads or road sections we are entering into an agreement with these haulers to allow them to use the road provided they pay for any excessive damage due to their hauling. The agreement requires a bond from the haulers to insure that they will pay.

Bradford Township follows the PennDOT Pub 221, Posting & Bonding Procedures for Municipal Highways.

The following is only an outline of the bonding procedure. Contact the Township Secretary to request the completed agreement. Example of required information would be the name of the responsible user, the road or roads that will be used for the heavy hauling, expected timeframe for the hauling(start and tentative stop dates) and the list of all vehicles that will be used in the heavy hauling operation.

Bonding Procedure:

Step One:

Enter into an Excess Maintenance Agreement. There are three types of agreements, all of which include a permit to exceed the posted weight limit restriction.

Type 1 Agreement:

This type is used when the hauler requires the use of a posted road and the posting authority anticipates that a lot of damage will occur. In this case the hauler (or user) has control over the heavy hauling vehicles traveling the road (e.g., coal mining or stripping operations or landfills). The user must issue each vehicle traveling the road a copy of the permit issued by the authority.

Type 2 Agreement:

This agreement type is the same as Type 1 except that the user has no control over the heavy hauling vehicles (i.e., other companies are involved in hauling the user’s raw materials or final product). In this case the user must post the permit in the office window at the pick-up and delivery location. This posting must be visible to the enforcement agency.

Type 3 Agreement:

This agreement type covers all posted roads in the municipality. It is employed when the use of the posted road is short-term and the posting authority would anticipate minimal damages by the hauler (e.g., some logging operations or well drilling operations).

Step Two:

For each type of agreement, regulations must specify the amount of security that the posting authority is legally allowed to require. The user shall then provide the security and will be bonded by it.

Security amounts are subject to change.

Step Three:

A preliminary inspection will be completed. To determine the user’s responsibility once hauling starts, a preliminary inspection of the posted road is necessary. The preliminary inspection will note all damages at all locations to establish existing conditions prior to the agreement being executed. The municipality and user shall both be represented at the inspection and a report form shall be completed. The user shall receive a copy of the report and the report will be attached to and become part of the agreement. The costs of the inspections shall be paid by the user or permitee.

Step Four:

The final agreement is executed and the appropriate permit(s) are issued to the user. The user is required to supply the information necessary to complete a permit for each vehicle that will be used in the hauling operation.

Monitoring Procedures

After execution of the agreement the municipality will monitor the condition of the posted road and will notify the user of necessary repairs. The damages shall be repaired as noted in the agreement and bill the user.

Monitoring the road condition will necessitate inspections being performed on a routine basis.

The regulations state that re-inspections will be made:

a. Upon issuance of any new permit

b. From time to time as the posting authority determines repairs may be required.

c. Upon termination of any permit.

A final inspection shall be completed after the user has notified the municipality that hauling as been completed and no longer required the use of the posted road.

BRADFORD TOWNSHIP

McKEAN COUNTY

Road Bonding Fees:

Type 1 and 2 permits which bond a particular road will be as follows:

(A) $6,000 per linear mile for unpaved highways to be maintained at a level

consistent with the type of highway.

(B) $12,500 per linear mile for paved highways to be maintained at a level

consistent with the type of highway.

Type 3 Permit which bond a particular road will be as follows:

(A) $10,000 / flat bonding fee for each County or Municipality road covered by the permit

Permit Fees:

Permit(s) shall be issued for each vehicle that will travel over designated highway. Each permit will be issued at the fee of $15.00/each. The permit must be carried in the vehicle.

Form of Security:

The security may be in the form of a performance bond with surety by a company authorized to do business in the Commonwealth; or in the form of a certified or cashier’s check.

Preliminary/Final Inspections:

The user shall be notified of the inspection and should participate in the inspection. The user shall receive a copy of the inspection report. The following are the charges for preliminary and final inspections.

(1) $40 for the first mile of portion thereof

(2) $25 for each additional mile

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