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Gravel Roads

Clearwater County requires any heavy hauls to be operating on 'Dry or Frozen Track Only' on all gravel roads.

Clearwater County maintains a strong working relationship with Industry. This achieves a balance between the needs of industry and general public. Clearwater County highway Order No. 03/23 (defining maximum allowable weights permitted on certain municipal roads) one full time employee that handles industry requests.

The following are general guidelines for oil and gas developments within Clearwater County. Clearwater County reserves the right to add other site specific conditions as required.


Pipeline Proximity to Road Allowance Conditions

The request for proximity to government road allowance with a pipeline requires The Oil Company to have a 40 metre set back, on a 20 metre County right-of-way and/or 45 metre set back on a 30 metre County right-of-way, from center line of developed or undeveloped road allowance to the closest edge of the pipeline right-of-way or The Oil Company may enter into a proximity agreement with Clearwater County. Please advise this office in writing of your decision.

Well site Proximity to Road Allowance Conditions

The Oil Company must maintain a 5 metre set back from Clearwater County property to oil company property line. The Oil Company will grant in writing Clearwater County permission to encroach onto Oil Company’s lease property without impacting A.E.R. guidelines.

Access Road Crossing Developed/Undeveloped Road Allowance Conditions

Access Road crossing developed/undeveloped road allowance must cross/meet at 90 degrees to the road allowance centerline.

Access Road Proximity to Road Allowance Conditions

  • The Oil Company must maintain a 5 metre set back from Clearwater County property to oil company property line UP TO a maximum of 150 metres from requested approach.
  • The access road may parallel the developed road allowance for a maximum of 150 metres to achieve the 150 metre sight lines.
  • The access road paralleling an undeveloped road allowance must be set back 40 metres from Clearwater County property line of the undeveloped road allowance.


 Construction of an Approach and Use an Existing Approach Conditions

  • Minimum 8.0 metre - maximum 12 metre (40 feet) will be required on gravel roads & 12 metre minimum off surfaced roads upon completion of the project.
  • All side slopes will require 3:1 slopes.
  • The following unobstructed sight distance requirements must be obtained for any approach and to be constructed on municipal road allowance: 150m for a roadway with less than 1,000 vehicles per day; 200m for a roadway with 1,000 vehicles per day or greater (sightlines shall be measured utilizing a sight point that is 1m high located adjacent to the proposed access point on the shoulder of the road)
  • All required culverts must have a minimum diameter of 500m.
  • 12 Tonnes of gravel initially on approach, more as required to eliminate tracking mud onto the Municipal road.
  • Proper Drainage.
  • No maintenance is provided by Clearwater County.
  • New or existing approaches applied for in Clearwater County must be visibly staked at the location of the requested site and labeled with the access to intended location.
  • Access roads or approaches entering a County road shall be setback from an intersection a minimum of 150m, unless they fall under the grandfather clause.
  • A minimum spacing of 50 meters is required between individual approaches.
  • No more than four (4) approaches per half (1/2) mile or eight (8) per quarter section are permitted, unless more existed prior to July 1, 2007.

Pipeline Crossing Developed Road Allowance Conditions

The Oil Company must have a License Agreement in place with Clearwater County for pipelines crossing road allowances. To install a pipeline in developed road allowances the pipeline must be placed 2.5 metres depth below bar ditch bottom. The following conditions apply to developed crossings.
  • The roadway and ditches are to be returned to the existing standard and condition at your expense with no right of contribution from the Clearwater County.
  • The Oil Company will be responsible for the repair and maintenance of the said roadway for a period of twenty-four (24) months from the date of completion of crossing.
  • The Oil Company will be responsible for aligning the crossing to at 90 degrees angle to road allowance centerline.
  • No permanent facility/structure within 30 metres of edge of right-of-way.
  • Contact Clearwater County a minimum of 24 - 48 hours prior to any boring under Municipal road allowances.
A crossing of a road allowance shall be constructed with no bends in the pipeline within the road allowance including any designated future road widening and within 8 meters of each side thereof.

Pipelines Crossing Undeveloped Road Allowance Conditions
 
The Oil Company must have a License Agreement in place with Clearwater County for pipelines crossing road allowances. To install a pipeline on undeveloped road allowance it must be placed at a 2.5 metres depth. The following conditions apply to undeveloped crossings.
  • If the County’s undeveloped road allowance is developed, The Oil Company will be responsible for re-aligning the crossing to at 90 degrees angle to road allowance centerline.
  • The Oil Company will be responsible for the repair and maintenance of the said roadway for a period of twenty-four (24) months from the date of completion of crossing.
  • No permanent facility within 40 metres from center line of the undeveloped road allowance. The Oil Company owning the Pipeline will be responsible for the repair and maintenance of the said undeveloped road allowance for a period of twenty-four (24) months from the date of completion of the crossing.

A crossing of an undeveloped road allowance shall be constructed with no bends in the pipeline within the road allowance including any designated future road widening and within 8 meters of each side thereof.


Pipelines Paralleling Road Allowance Condition
 
A pipeline paralleling a road allowance shall be located a minimum of 30 metres from the boundary of the road allowance including any designated future road allowance widening.

General Requirement for all Work on Municipal Road Allowances

1. When working in/around a Clearwater County road allowance, proper signage must be used as per Clearwater County policy. Flag person(s) shall be utilized to safe guard public traffic when equipment is working within the road allowance and disrupts the normal flow of traffic. Public traffic on all Clearwater County road allowances shall maintain the right-of-way at all times.

2. Road Use Permits are required on all truck hauls that are 10 or more loads in a day. Typical conditions included in Road Use Permits are:

    • Water trucks for dust control will be supplied by the permit holder.
    • Grader maintenance on the County roads to be undertaken by the permit holder while haul is in progress. The grader maintenance shall keep the road surface in the same or better condition as it was prior to the haul commencing. (A grader must accompany the haul at all times).
    • Road repairs will be undertaken to the County’s satisfaction and will be at the sole cost of the permit holder. The haul route shall be evaluated by the permit holder upon completion of the haul to determine all areas which require re-gravelling. The rate at which these areas will be gravelled will be determined by a Clearwater County representative. ¾" gravel shall be used for re-gravelling.
    • Public notification of the move shall be made by the posting of signs at specific locations.
    • In case of rain or wet conditions, the trucks are to be stopped immediately in order to protect the road from damage.
    • Move only on frost.

3. Dust control is also required when traffic volumes generated by a development or activity exceed 5 trips in any given one hour period.

4. Single Trip Permits are required on a heavy truck haul with a single load.
 
To receive a single trip permit contact:
  • Government of Alberta - Alberta Transportation Online Service - TRAVIS MJ
  • Government of Alberta - Alberta Transportation Central Permit Office 1-800-662-7138
  • Roadata - 1-888-830-7623
For more information on Commercial Vehicle - Oversize and Overweight Permits please visit: https://www.alberta.ca/commerical-vehicle-oversize-and-overweight-permits.aspx 

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