City of Oelwein City Code

B. Plating of Open Excavations: Any excavation in traveled vehicular way left open overnight
or left unattended shall be covered with a steel plate, where practical, strong enough to carry any
traffic over the open hole. This plate shall be equipped with lugs on the bottom to prevent the
plate from being slid off of the hole. This plate shall be in place at any time that work is not
being performed in the excavation. In the event a steel plate is not used, then appropriate
protective measures shall be taken as prescribed in subsection A hereof.
SECTION 14-47. RESTORATION OF EXCAVATED SITE.
A. Restoration of Surface. Street surface damaged by excavation shall be restored in the
following manner:
1. By Permittee: Upon completion of the backfilling, resurfacing of an excavation
within a public place for the installation or removal of substructures or facilities the City shall
require the permittee to resurface that portion of the street surface damaged by the permittee’s
excavation, resurfacing shall be done in a manner and under specifications prescribed by the City
and subject to the inspection of the City and shall be completed within a period of sixty (60)
days, weather permitting, after such authorization to complete final resurfacing, or sooner upon
notification by the City.
2. By City: Permanent resurfacing of excavation may, at its option, be made by the City.
The top surface of the backfill shall be covered with one inch (1”) of bituminous temporary
resurfacing material, by the permittee. Such temporary paving material shall be road rock or
cold mix, except that the permittee may use or the City may require hot mix. All temporary
paving material shall conform closely enough to the level of the adjoining paving surface and
shall be compacted so that it is hard enough and smooth enough to be safe for pedestrian travel
over it as well as for vehicular traffic to pass safely over it at a legal rate of speed. The permittee
shall maintain temporary paving and keep the site safe for pedestrian and vehicular traffic until
the permanent repairs are complete, except that if it is not possible to maintain the surface of the
temporary paving in a safe condition for pedestrian travel or vehicular traffic, then the permittee
shall maintain barriers and lights were required herein. Cost of resurfacing to be charged to the
permittee.
B. Backfilling: Fine material, free from lumps and stone, selected from the soil shall be
thoroughly compacted around and under the substructure to the upper level of such substructure.
Above the upper level of the substructure, backfill material shall be placed to the subgrade of the
pavement in lifts consistent with the type of soil involved and the degree of consolidation
specified by the City. Broken pavement, large stones, roots and other debris shall not be used in
the backfill. The number and size of each lift shall be dependent upon the type of soil involved.
Such backfill shall be done in a manner that will permit the restoration of the surface to a density
condition not less than that existing prior to excavation unless otherwise specified by the City.
The City may require soil tests to be furnished by a recognized soil testing laboratory or
registered professional engineer specializing in soil mechanics when, in its opinion, backfill for
any excavation is not being adequately compacted. In order for the resurfacing to be permitted,
such tests must show that the backfill material meets the minimum requirements as prescribed by
the City. All expense of such tests shall be borne by the permittee.
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