HB153 (2007) Detail

Relative to standards for bridge and highway construction.


CHAPTER 60

HB 153 – FINAL VERSION

21Feb2007… 0207h

04/18/07 1199s

02May2007… 1489eba

2007 SESSION

07-0732

06/10

HOUSE BILL 153

AN ACT relative to standards for bridge and highway construction.

SPONSORS: Rep. Waterhouse, Rock 4

COMMITTEE: Public Works and Highways

AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill:

I. Requires design standards and manuals relating to bridge construction promulgated by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials to be adopted by reference and applied by the commissioner of transportation to state bridge aid and state highway aid projects.

II. Requires the department of transportation to provide notice 90 days prior to the adoption of AASHTO design standards and manuals.

This bill is a request of the department of transportation.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

21Feb2007… 0207h

04/18/07 1199s

02May2007… 1489eba

07-0732

06/10

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Seven

AN ACT relative to standards for bridge and highway construction.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

60:1 New Section; Bridge and Highway Construction Requirements. Amend RSA 21-L by inserting after section 12-a the following new section:

21-L:12-b Bridge and Highway Construction Requirements for State Bridge Aid and State Highway Aid Projects.

I. Except as provided in paragraph III, the most current versions of the following design standards and manuals promulgated by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), inclusive of any amendments, revisions, interim revisions, or new editions promulgated by AASHTO are hereby adopted by reference, and the commissioner shall apply them to any project funded by state bridge aid or state highway aid as minimum standards in the state:

(a) AASHTO load and resistance factor design for bridge design specifications;

(b) AASHTO manual for condition evaluation of bridges;

(c) AASHTO guide specifications for seismic isolation design;

(d) AASHTO manual for condition evaluation and load resistance factor rating (LRFR) of highway bridges;

(e) AASHTO standard specifications for structural supports for highway signs, luminaries, and traffic signals;

(f) AASHTO policy on geometric design of highways and streets; and

(g) AASHTO roadside design guide.

II. At least 90 days prior to the adoption of any design standards or manuals under paragraph I the commissioner:

(a) Shall publish notice of such standards or manuals in a statewide newspaper and at least one newspaper of general circulation in each county of the state.

(b) Shall provide written notice of such standards or manuals to the associated general contractors of New Hampshire and other contractors with whom the department is doing business.

(c) May, in appropriate situations, hold a public hearing.

III. For modifications to an existing bridge, the commissioner may require load resistance factor design (LRFD) specifications from the most current version of the applicable AASHTO manual listed in paragraph I or the specifications that were used for the original design of the bridge.

60:2 New Subparagraph; Administrative Procedure Act; Exceptions. Amend RSA 541-A:21, I by inserting after subparagraph (y) the following new subparagraph:

(z) RSA 21-L:12-b, relative to bridge and highway construction requirements in AASHTO design standards and manuals.

60:3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

Approved: June 1, 2007

Effective: July 31, 2007