Trenches or excavations which cannot be properly backfilled and patched prior to the end of the work day may be bridged to permit an unobstructed flow of traffic.  Trench walls and adjacent soils shall be sufficiently stabilized prior to the use of steel plates for bridging.

• Bridging must be secured against displacement by using adjustable cleats, angles, bolts, or other devices to prevent movement by traffic. 
• The trench must be adequately shored to support the bridging and traffic. 
• Steel plates used for bridging must extend 1 foot beyond the edges of the trench.  Temporary paving materials (premix) should be used to feather the edges of the plate to minimize wheel impact.   

All excavations in the public rights-of-way shall be in compliance with all current Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) requirements.  Any persons in an excavation not in compliance with OSHA regulations will be ordered out of the excavation until it is brought into compliance.  OSHA-N.C.  inspectors may be notified of any excavation not brought into compliance when ordered or if a contractor or utility company repeatedly violates OSHA  regulations.   

All agencies working within the public right-of-way shall comply with all of the provisions of the Underground Damage Prevention Act (Section 1, Chapter 87, Article 3 of the North Carolina General Statutes).  The North Carolina One-Call Center, Inc. (NCOCC) is available to assist you with meeting the provisions of this act.  Contacting NCOCC (1-800-632-4949) is sufficient notification to most utilities in Charlotte ; however, the agency making the excavation is also responsible for contacting those utilities in the area, which are not members of the NCOCC, including the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utility Department.  Except in cases of emergency, requests for underground utility locates must be made at least 48 hours, but no more than 2 weeks, before an excavation is begun.  NCOCC requests that the Contractor mark the proposed excavation area limits with white paint.  The agency making the excavation is responsible for any damage, which may result, from the failure to have all underground utilities properly located or for not following proper procedures in the vicinity of properly marked underground utilities.   

All excavations or trenches made in the street or sidewalk shall be backfilled and patched in accordance with current CDOT and/or NCDOT specifications.  A Street-Cut Permit shall be obtained from the CDOT Street Maintenance Division (see Section 3) prior to making an excavation or cutting a trench in the pavement or sidewalk.

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