SB501: Bill Text

LRB-3742/1

ARG:jld:jm

2011 - 2012 LEGISLATURE

2011 Senate BILL 501

February 21, 2012 - Introduced by Senator Lazich, cosponsored by Representative Petrowski, by request of The Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Referred to Committee on Transportation and Elections.

SB501,1,2 An Act to amend 62.15 (11) and 86.06 (1) of the statutes; relating to: road closure barriers.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, during construction or repair of a road or when a road is impassable or unsafe for travel, the highway authorities in charge of construction or maintenance of the road may close the road by maintaining barriers at each end of the closed road. The barriers must be of such material and construction and so placed as to indicate that the highway is closed and must be lighted at night. Under this bill, road closure barriers, in lieu of being lighted at night, must conform to the standards for traffic control devices in the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) adopted by the Department of Transportation (DOT).

Also under current law, contractors doing work that obstructs city streets or sidewalks must put up and maintain barriers and lights to prevent accidents. Under this bill, these contractors are not required to put up lights but the barriers they are required to put up and maintain must conform to the standards for traffic control devices in the MUTCD adopted by DOT.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

SB501, s. 1 Section 1. 62.15 (11) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB501,2,9 62.15 (11) Street obstruction. All contractors doing any work which shall in any manner obstruct the streets or sidewalks shall put up and maintain barriers and lights conforming to the standards for traffic control devices in the manual adopted by the department of transportation under s. 84.02 (4) (e) to prevent accidents, and be liable for all damages caused by failure so to do. All contracts shall contain a provision covering this liability, and also a provision making the contractor liable for all damages caused by the negligent digging up of streets, alleys or public grounds, or which may result from the contractor's carelessness in the prosecution of such work.

SB501, s. 2 Section 2. 86.06 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB501,2,17 86.06 (1) Whenever any highway is impassable or unsafe for travel or during the construction or repair of any such highway and until it is ready for traffic the authorities in charge of the maintenance or construction thereof may keep it closed by maintaining barriers at each end of the closed portion. The barriers shall be of such material and construction and so placed as to indicate that the highway is closed and shall be lighted at night conform to the standards for traffic control devices in the manual adopted by the department of transportation under s. 84.02 (4) (e).

SB501,2,18 (End)