Chapter Trans 204

Trans 204.01 History History: Cr. Register, September, 1992, No. 441, eff. 10-1-92; correction made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register March 2012 No. 675.

Trans 204.02 Trans 204.02 Definitions. In this chapter:

Trans 204.02(1) (1) “Average daily traffic” or “ADT” means the total traffic volume during a stated period divided by the number of days in that stated period; unless otherwise specified, the stated period is one year.

Trans 204.02(2) (2) “Bridge rehabilitation” means the preservation or restoration of the structural integrity of an existing bridge as well as work to correct safety defects.

Trans 204.02(3) (3) “Bridge replacement” means building a new bridge to replace an existing bridge.

Trans 204.02(4) (4) “Design speed” means the maximum safe speed that can be maintained over a specified section of a highway when conditions are so favorable that the design features of the highway govern.

Trans 204.02(5) (5) “Improvement” means a town road construction project with a projected design life of at least 10 years.

Trans 204.02(6) (6) “Improvement level” means the type of construction improvement. It can range from resurfacing to complete reconstruction of a town road.

Trans 204.02(7) (7) “Load posted” means the placement of regulatory signs at a bridge indicating the safe load carrying capacity of the bridge.

Trans 204.02(8) (8) “Recondition” means work in addition to resurfacing, and includes pavement widening, shoulder paving, and improvement of an isolated grade, curve, intersection or correction of a sight distance problem to improve safety.

Trans 204.02(9) (9) “Reconstruction” means total rebuilding of an existing town road to improve maintainability, safety, geometrics and traffic service.

Trans 204.02(10) (10) “Resurfacing” means placing a new surface, exclusive of seal coating, on an existing roadway to provide a better all weather surface, a better riding surface, and to extend or renew the pavement life.

Trans 204.02(11) (11) “Roadway” means the portion of a highway, including shoulders, for vehicular use.

Trans 204.02(12) (12) “Shoulder” means the portion of a roadway that is contiguous to the traveled way and is used primarily for vehicular stopping in an emergency.

Trans 204.02(13) (13) “Traveled way” means the portion of the roadway designed for movement of vehicles exclusive of the shoulders.

Trans 204.02(14) (14) “Usable bridge width” means the clear width between curbs or rails, whichever is less.

Trans 204.02 History History: Cr. Register, September, 1992, No. 441, eff. 10-1-92.

Trans 204.03 Trans 204.03 Town road standards.

Trans 204.03(1) (1) The minimum design standards for each of the town road improvement levels are as shown in the following tables:

- See PDF for table

- See PDF for table

Trans 204.03 Note Note: Examples of resurfacing and reconditioning improvements which may be appropriate for existing town roads include, but are not limited to, pavement rehabilitation; widening lanes and shoulders; replacing bridge elements to correct structural deficiencies; bridge deck overlays; bridge and culvert replacement; and other related improvements such as minor grading, subgrade work and correction of drainage problems.

Trans 204.03(2) (2) The geometry of the town road shall be designed to safely accommodate vehicles traveling at the design speed selected for the road improvement.

Trans 204.03(3) (3) The minimum design standards for existing town bridges are as shown in the following table:

- See PDF for table

Trans 204.03(4) (4) Bridge replacement, rehabilitation or widening is required where a bridge is either load posted or has a usable width that is less than the traveled way width. Bridge replacement or widening should be evaluated if the usable bridge width is less than the values shown in Table C. If widening of the traveled way is planned as part of the town road improvement, the usable bridge width should be compared to the approaches after they are widened to determine whether or not bridge replacement or widening should be evaluated.

Trans 204.03(5) (5) The minimum design standards for new bridges on town roads are as shown in ch. Trans 214.

Trans 204.03 History History: Cr. Register, September, 1992, No. 441, eff. 10-1-92.

Trans 204.04 Trans 204.04 Exceptions to standards. The secretary or the secretary’s designee may authorize deviation from the standards in this chapter in special cases in which strict application of the standards is impractical and in which deviation is not contrary to the public interest and safety.

Trans 204.04 History History: Cr. Register, September, 1992, No. 441, eff. 10-1-92.