Conduit.
Equipment installed by means of micro-trenching to house fiber optic cabling.
Contractor.
The person or business entity installing a micro-trench.
Duct.
One enclosed pathway or pipe within a conduit.
Excavation.
An activity that removes or otherwise disturbs soil, pavement, driveways, curbs, or sidewalks in the right-of-way including micro-trenching and does not include landscaping activity unless the activity removes or disturbs the paved portion of the right-of-way.
Micro-trench.
A trench with a width between 0.5 inches and 2.5 inches and a depth between 16 inches and 24 inches.
Micro-trenching.
A technique for installing conduit for fiber optics cable in narrow and shallow trenches cut into roads and surfaces.
Project.
The entire work sought to be performed regardless of the number of micro-trenches, pavement cuts, or excavations.
(Ordinance 2022-034 adopted 6/13/22)
(a) 
It shall be unlawful for any person to construct a micro-trench or to construct, install, lay or maintain telecommunications conduits for fiber optic cable within the boundaries of the right-of-way of any public street or ally within the corporate limits of the city, or to all without first obtaining an excavation permit from the department of planning and community development. A permit shall be required for each project. Each days’ violation of this division constitutes a separate offense. Violations are punishable by a fine as set forth in section 1.01.009 of this code.
(b) 
Required submittals with permit application.
The following items shall be submitted by the contractor to the city engineer for approval prior to undertaking the construction of any micro-trench:
(1) 
A detailed site plan indicating the locations of proposed micro-trenching.
(2) 
A typical micro-trench detail that includes the following information: The maximum roadway thickness, base, depth and width of micro-trench, location of micro-trench in roadway, depth of top-most conduit, and backfill material.
(3) 
Detail showing conduit from main micro-trench alignment to lateral surface connections including to any junction/pull box. Include specific information of depth, size, and method of excavation below existing curb and gutter.
(4) 
Submittal data for micro-trench backfill material and brief explanation of reinstatement method.
(5) 
Cut sheets of the proposed equipment particularly suitable for micro-trenching, including:
(A) 
Micro-trencher capable of meeting target depth and width in a single pass with an integral hood and associated vacuum system.
(i) 
Selection of cutting wheel shall be such that damage to the adjacent roadway surface is minimized. PDC blades are preferred to conical blades.
(B) 
Mobile reinstatement machine for backfill placement with an on-board vibrator and narrow trough to match micro-trench width.
(C) 
Mobile ground penetrating radar system that is capable of locating both metallic and non-metallic pipes and cables to a depth of 24-inches.
(D) 
If trenching in phases, completely detail phase plan for review.
(E) 
The contractor shall clearly mark the exact location of the micro-trench and all features, as determined by the site plan, prior to any trenching. Trenching is only allowed after the marks have been reviewed and approved by the city.
(F) 
Other site-specific items as required by the city engineer.
(Ordinance 2022-034 adopted 6/13/22)
(a) 
Micro-trenching shall only be used to install telecommunication conduits and fiber optic cable.
(1) 
The location of existing buried utilities, if shown, are approximate only. Licensee shall be responsible for locating and protecting all buried utilities, including service connections in the field. The contractor shall contact each utility company ahead of performing the work (with Texas811 at least 48 hours prior to start of work at 8-1-1, or toll-free at 1-(800)334-8377) and request the utility locate its lines. Failure of the utility to locate, or improper location by the utility, shall not result in additional cost to the city. The contractor shall further supplement the findings of Texas811 to determine the exact locations and depths of all utilities by using a mobile ground penetrating radar system. The contractor shall pothole all crossing utilities and parallel utilities within 18-inches of the proposed alignment to a depth of 6-inches below the bottom of the micro-trench, to determine the existing utility alignment and elevation. Potholes will be saw cut as necessary to hand dig or core drill and vacuum. Potholes shall be immediately backfilled and compacted in accordance with the specifications or restored as directed by the city engineer.
(A) 
For potholes in asphalt concrete and asphalt-overlayed-concrete streets, backfill shall be flowable backfill (as per specifications) above the pipe or conduit to the bottom of the existing asphalt. The hole shall be capped to match the thickness of existing asphalt with hot-mixed asphaltic concrete surface per specifications.
(B) 
For potholes in concrete streets, backfill shall be flowable backfill (as per specifications) above the pipe or conduit to the bottom of the existing concrete. Existing concrete around the hole shall be dowel-rodded, with a minimum of 8 inches into and out of the pavement. The hole shall be capped to match the thickness of the existing concrete with concrete pavement per specifications.
(C) 
For potholes in unpaved areas, backfill shall be native material, compacted in 8" loose lifts.
(2) 
If existing utilities are damaged, the contractor shall immediately notify the inspector, city engineer, and the city to perform the repairs promptly according to their requirements. All of the city’s utilities damaged by the contractor shall be repaired by the contractor at its expense. Materials used in repair of utilities shall conform to these specifications. The contractor shall notify any utility customer in advance of shutting off their utility service. Existing water and sewer lines damaged shall be repaired within 4 hours on the day damaged. The city shall operate its existing water valves in his system. However, the city does not guarantee 100% shut-off of existing water lines.
(Ordinance 2022-034 adopted 6/13/22)
(a) 
Micro-trenches are only allowed on streets of good condition, as determined by the public works director and city engineer on a case-by-case basis.
(b) 
The location of micro-trenches is determined by the specifics of the edge of the pavement.
(1) 
In an asphalt/concrete street with curb and gutter.
Cut trench in the asphalt/concrete at the edge of the gutter line (on the street side). See detail 1 in section 10.05.308.
(2) 
In an asphalt/concrete street with only curb.
Cut trench 18" off the curb face. See detail 2 in section 10.05.308.
(3) 
In asphalt/concrete street with no curb.
Cut trench 18" off edge of pavement. See detail 3 in section 10.05.308.
(c) 
The micro-trench shall be constructed with continuous uniform straight and neat edges.
(d) 
Micro-trench alignments shall consist of runs parallel to the centerline of the street. Street crossing may be done provided the alignment is perpendicular to the street centerline to the extent possible.
(e) 
The micro-trench width shall be a minimum of 0.5-inches and a maximum of 2.5-inches.
(f) 
Up to two (2) vertically stacked conduits can be placed within a micro-trench.
(g) 
The top of the highest conduit shall be installed at a minimum depth of 12-inches below the existing pavement surface, and at least 1-inch below the bottom of the asphalt or concrete pavement.
(h) 
The bottom of the micro-trench shall have a minimum depth of 16-inches and a maximum depth of 24-inches.
(i) 
Micro-trenching may be permitted on special pavements such as decorative asphalt paving, and through existing improvements such as perpendicular to speed bumps, as determined by the public works director or city engineer. Special pavements and existing improvements shall be restored in kind as approved.
(Ordinance 2022-034 adopted 6/13/22)
(a) 
All backfill material and sealer specifications must be approved by the city prior to use.
(b) 
All micro-trenches shall be completely backfilled with MK1 Services’ 600 FP or Corbel Communications Industries “Corbel Trench Fill” proprietary micro-trench reinstatement material or approved equal, to finish grade by the end of the workday. Alternative backfill must be approved by the city prior to use, and will meet the following specifications:
(1) 
Meeting or exceed the strength of the material it is replacing.
(2) 
Not allowing cracking, separation from the street, or general water permeability to avoid conduit floatation.
(c) 
All micro-trenches and potholes must be backfilled by the end of the workday. No trench will be allowed to be open overnight.
(Ordinance 2022-034 adopted 6/13/22)
(a) 
Connection to service laterals, junction boxes, etc., shall be done such that curb and gutter is not disturbed, settled, or damaged. Removal limits of sidewalk shall follow applicable standards and requirements as approved by the city engineer.
(b) 
If sawing through curb, gutter, and sidewalk, right-of-way user shall utilize existing joints as much as possible. When restoring curb, gutter, and sidewalk cuts, an approved backfill and/or concrete joint sealant shall be placed in the joint.
(c) 
A utility locate marker shall be placed at each curb cut. This marker shall identify the utility and ensure others have the ability to locate the facilities for future repairs or routine maintenance and protect against accidental dig-ins.
(d) 
Splice cases and fiber coils for future services, if any, shall be placed immediately behind the curb at a minimum depth of 8". Where sidewalk is at back of curb, splice cases and coils shall be placed at the back of sidewalk.
(e) 
The use of hydro-jetting is not permitted. Trenchless methods shall not create a void two times greater than conduit. Void shall be compacted and backfilled with approved material. The contractor shall coordinate with the city on the type of backfill material to be used prior to construction. The city shall inspect all trenchless construction prior to completion.
(Ordinance 2022-034 adopted 6/13/22)
Each micro-trench shall be identified with a metal identification tag listing the city, year of construction, and include the words “not a survey point.” If the work is more than 50 feet in length, the contractor shall place the tag near each end of the micro-trench and at intervals not to exceed 50 feet.
(Ordinance 2022-034 adopted 6/13/22)
(a) 
Spoils shall be vacuumed during trenching process and hauled away by the contractor.
(b) 
Pavement reinstatement shall be level with adjacent roadway elevations and shall provide a smooth surface, subject to acceptance by the inspector.
(c) 
At the conclusion of the work, all tools, temporary structures, and materials belonging to the contractor shall be promptly removed. All rubbish and other foreign substances shall be removed from the project site and satisfactorily disposed of. All jobsites, including streets, rights-of-way, roads, and areas used by the contractor shall be left in a clean, neat condition satisfactory to the city. The city’s representative may also require clean-up of the jobsite or easements and rights-of-way periodically during the progress of work
(Ordinance 2022-034 adopted 6/13/22)