Chandler Council approves roadwork rules ‘with teeth’

By Jason W. Brooks
Mail | X: @JasonWBrooks2

Chandler’s newest proposed restrictions for roadwork are meant to send a message to construction companies.

The message: Don’t block off streets or lanes for any longer than absolutely necessary.

The Chandler City Council’s Dec. 12 preliminary approval of Ordinance No. 5115, which would create the Right of Way Temporary Use Management Program, would help address the number and frequency of traffic restrictions in Chandler, city staff said in a news release.

If adopted by the council at its Jan. 9 meeting, the ordinance would take effect 30 days later.

The city’s traffic engineer, Dana Alvidrez, described important aspects of the program to council in a Dec. 9 work session.

“We don’t really have a program with teeth right now,” Alvidrez said. “We ask contractors to leave a roadway if they don’t have their permits or if they’re doing something incorrectly. This gives us teeth and gives them consequences or penalties if rules aren’t being followed.”

The ordinance is meant to better coordinate and manage temporary traffic restrictions. City staff say they issue about 1,900 temporary traffic control permits annually in Chandler for work on roadways, developments and utility systems.

Those restrictions were part of the focus of a council work session in May. Council and Alvidrez, Utilities Director John Knudson and others discussed how projects are coordinated, driver safety and the frequency and the length of time that roadways have restrictions.

Council direction from that work session led to the Transportation Engineering Division staff developing two programs to enhance road construction coordination, the report states.

The first program is a right-of-way temporary use fee program to both incentivize contractors to complete their work in a timely manner and to hold them accountable, mostly through fines, if they don’t.

The second program is a set of right-of-way temporary use management policies and procedures. Staff say this program will enhance the planning, application and oversight of traffic control in temporary work areas along city roadways and public rights-of-way.

The report says the goal is to “maintain work zone safety while minimizing inconveniences for the public.”

The ordinance would give Chandler the authority to collect fees, including a non-refundable permit fee which is intended to cover the cost of plan review and inspection.

There will also be a required deposit — based on the size and scope of the project — for all work involving lane restrictions or closures. That deposit would be fully refundable if the work is completed per the specifications and timeframe authorized as stated on the permit.

It’s also essential contractors not damage any city infrastructure during construction, the ordinance reads.

The ordinance says certain infractions could result in a civil violation, such as using right of way without a city-approved traffic control permit.

Contractors working on city-owned projects or contracts must comply with this policy and obtain a permit, the staff report states. But application-fee and deposit details will be included in specific project contracts.

We invite our readers to submit their civil comments on this topic. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org.  Email Jason W. Brooks at jbrooks@iniusa.org.

INDEPENDENT NEWSMEDIA

Jason W. Brooks
News Editor | Chandler Independent

Jason W. Brooks joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2021 as an associate editor. After a year covering Buckeye, he has covered Chandler since the fall of 2022, in addition to assisting the Daily Independent throughout his time at INI.

Education: University of New Mexico, bachelor of arts in journalism and mass communication, print emphasis, English minor.

Random Fact: He and his siblings witnessed a Space Shuttle launch and landing in the same year in person, on opposite coasts.

Hobbies: Karaoke, bicycling and American Sign Language.

Community: He supports animal shelters.