2002-01-07 Minimum Construction Standards for Private RoadsMINIMUM CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS FOR PRIVATE ROADS
PERSON COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA
Date of Adoption: March 9, 1987
Amended:
(1) January 7, 2002
Minimum Construction Standards for Private Roads
Amended January 7, 2002 Page 1
GENERAL STANDARDS
(Amended January 7, 2002)
Person County allows the construction of private roads to serve lots
within subdivisions and mobile home parks that do not abut state-maintained
roads. The purpose of a private road is to insure that all lots have documented
legal right of way and to provide adequate access for residents and emergency
vehicles.
Private roads may be permitted in situations where one or more of the
following conditions exist:
1. (a) a mobile home park in which spaces are being rented; or
(b) a subdivision of 6 or less lots; (Amended 1-07-02)
2. the division would preserve a natural area through deed
restrictions and special design features; and/or
3. the road would not be accepted by the State even if built to
their standards because of the low housing density or length.
After initial construction of the private road, maintenance must be
provided by the property owners who use the road. In subdivisions, a "Road
Maintenance Agreement and Declaration" between the lot owners is required to
insure that the needed repairs are made.
The technical standards and specifications for the design and
construction of private roads apply to all subdivisions and mobile home parks
located in Person County. However, in subdivisions, the type of road required
depends on the number of lots served by the road. For subdivisions, a Class B
road shall be provided in those subdivisions in which one (1) to six (6) lots are
located and a Class A road may be provided for these subdivisions. For
subdivisions in which seven (7) or more lots are located, roads meeting the
minimum construction standards set forth in the North Carolina department of
Transportation, Division of Highways Subdivision Roads Minimum
Constructions Standards shall be provided.
(Amended 1-7-02)
For mobile home parks, all unpaved roads within a mobile home park
shall be constructed and designed with the standards for a Class A Road. All
paved streets within a mobile home park shall be constructed in accordance
with North Carolina Department of Transportation standards.
Minimum Construction Standards for Private Roads
Amended January 7, 2002 Page 2
Since private subdivision roads are not constructed to North Carolina
Department of Transportation standards, they will not be added to the
Secondary Road System and will not be maintained by the State or Person
County. And, although paved roads within a mobile home park must be
constructed in accordance with North Carolina Department of Transportation
standards, the State of North Carolina will not add roads within a mobile home
park to its Secondary Road System. Consequently, paved roads within a mobile
home park shall be considered as private roads.
Before the final plat of the subdivision or mobile home park can be
recorded, the private road must be built and approved or the applicant must
post a security instrument with the County in an amount that would cover the
cost of constructing the road.
Construction of the private road must be inspected and approved by
Person County. The road should be inspected during construction in order that
any changes necessary to insure approval can be made before the final
inspection.
In order for these inspections to be made during construction, the
property owner must inform the Planning Department prior to the start of
grading so that the inspections can be scheduled. The inspections are made
only to insure the road is built to the required dimensions, an acceptable stone
surface is provided, any disturbed areas are seeded in permanent vegetation,
and the road sign is in place.
The County does not assume responsibility for such quality control
inspections as compaction of fill or construction materials. It is recommended
that the developer employ a qualified grading contractor to insure that
adequate construction methods and materials are used.
Minimum Construction Standards for Private Roads
Amended January 7, 2002 Page 3
TECHNICAL STANDARDS FOR PRIVATE ROADS
Travelway
The travelway must be surfaced and compacted with material acceptable
to Person County to the required width of the particular class of road. A crown
should be built into the travelway so that water will drain from the road surface
into the side ditch. The crown should not be so great as to cause vehicles to
slide off the travelway when ice or snow are on the road.
Generally the road should be crowned as shown in the specifications
sheet so that runoff will drain to the ditches on both sides of the road.
However, in some situations, it may be desirable not to crown the road but to
have the travelway sloped to a single ditch as shown below. This is applicable in
two situations: where it is necessary to cut down on the length of a ditch in
order to reduce the erosion potential by decreasing the volume of runoff, or
where it is difficult to construct ditches due to rock or in curves.
PITCH OF TRAVELWAY
Surface Materials
Acceptable material for surfacing the travelway is Aggregate Base Course
(commonly called "crusher run"), but the application of clean stone (North
Carolina Department of Transportation ABC-M) instead of crusher run is
encouraged where possible.
Minimum Construction Standards for Private Roads
Amended January 7, 2002 Page 4
Fill Material
Where filling is necessary to raise the roadbed, cross watercourses or fill
stumpholes, it shall be done with suitable material that is free of roots or other
organic matter. The fill should be firmly compacted to reduce settlement that
will cause ruts or holes in the finished road.
Two-Way Traffic
Private Roads shall provide for two-way traffic in order to prevent conflict
of vehicles meeting head-on. Two -way traffic can be accomplished by widening
the traveway at prescribed locations to allow vehicles to pass or to pull over and
stop while another vehicle passes.
Grade
The grade of the road should be between 0.5 percent and 12 percent.
Where possible, the road should be constructed along the contour of the land
to avoid steep grades.
Intersections
All roads shall intersect at angles of no less that seventy-five (75)
degrees.
Intersection with Public Road
The minimum sight distance for stop condition when connecting new
local residential roads or residential collector roads to state-maintained roads is
70 feet along the existing road right -of-way and 10 feet along the new road
right-of-way.
Minimum Construction Standards for Private Roads
Amended January 7, 2002 Page 5
The intersection of a Private Road with a public road must provide an adequate
place for cars to stop before entering the public road. See the diagram below.
The Private Road must flair at the public road in order to permit a vehicle to
enter the Private Road when another vehicle is waiting on the Private Road. The
dimensions of the required flair are shown on the specifications sheet for each
class of road.
Drainage
All storm drainage shall be adequate so that the road may be maintained
without excessive cost, and not cause flooding on private property from storm
runoff of the design frequency. Permanent drainage easements may be
required. The minimum design frequency shall be as follows but may be
increased at the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Administrator or
his designated agent.
1. Storm sewer collector - 10 year flood frequency discharge
2. Cross drainage - 25 years flood frequency discharge.
Minimum Construction Standards for Private Roads
Amended January 7, 2002 Page 6
In areas where ditch grades or quantities of flow deem it impracticable to
establish and maintain vegetation, an erosive resistant lining such as paving or
rock rip rap may be required.
When road crossings are within areas designated as flood-hazard areas
under the Federal Flood Insurance Program, the design must be approved by
the responsible local governing agency for its consistency with local flood
zoning ordinances.
Turn-Arounds
Vehicle turn-around areas shall be provided at the end of all dead-end
roads. This can be accomplished by ending the road in a cul-de-sac or a "T".
Cul -de-sacs shall have a minimum diameter of 70 feet. The "T" type turn
around is preferred. However, if a “T" type turn-around is desired, it must be
approved by the Planning Board and conform to the dimensions in the design
below.
Minimum Construction Standards for Private Roads
Amended January 7, 2002 Page 7
Road Name and Sign
The road name shall be verified with the Person County Planning
Department to insure that the proposed name does not duplicate an existing
name. The road sign must have one blade showing the name of the private road
and another showing the name of the existing state-maintained road, or the
private road to which it intersects, whichever is applicable.
Right-of-Way
The right of way shall be 50 feet wide and indicated on the final plat.
Requests for rights of way less than 50 feet wide, but at least 25 feet wide,
must be approved by the Board of Commissioners. Bends in the right of way
must be at angles that will permit construction of curves with a 150 foot
minimum centerline radius. See "Minimum Curve Radius".
Permanent Vegetation
All areas disturbed by the construction of the road, including the
shoulders, ditch banks, cut and fill slopes and any borrow areas, shall be
seeded in permanent vegetation to stabilize the soil and prevent erosion.
Seeding should be done immediately after grading is completed and before the
final inspection by the County.
The disturbed areas shall be smoothed and lightly harrowed to breakup
the soil and prepare a good seedbed. The following materials are recommended
per 1000 square feet. Other types of permanent vegetation may be substituted
as long as they provide adequate cover to prevent erosion.
1.4 lbs. Fescue grass seed
0.4 lbs.
German or Browntop millet to provide temporary cover until the
grass becomes established (0.4 lbs. of rye during winter months)
90 lbs. Lime
23 lbs. 10-10-10 Fertilizer
2 40 lbs. Bales of straw for mulch (use enough to cover 75% of the ground)
Minimum Construction Standards for Private Roads
Amended January 7, 2002 Page 8
Maintenance
In subdivisions, maintenance of the private road must be provided by the
lot owners who are served by the road. The Road Maintenance Agreement
between the lot owners is required· to insure that the cost is shared equally and
a mechanism for maintenance is set up. This responsibility for maintenance is
the property owners and neither the State nor Person County will maintain the
road.
In mobile home parks, maintenance must be provided by the park owner.
Regular attention shall be given to the following items in order to assure
that the road will remain in good condition.
1. Vegetation: The vegetation should be mowed, limed and fertilized as
needed. Areas that erode or where seeding is
unsuccessful should be reseeded.
2. Drainage: Culverts shall be kept clear of trash and other
obstructions that could prevent or reduce its function. If
culverts are not kept clear, it will cause runoff to flow
over the road and may cause flooding upsteam. Ditch
banks and bottoms shall be protected from erosion by
maintaining good vegetation.
3. Travelway:
The travelway shall be maintained by grading the
surface material to fill any potholes that develop and to
evenly spread the surface material where the soil has
been uncovered by erosion.
4. Road Name Sign: The sign shall be kept visible and legible so that visitors
and emergency personnel can easily locate the road.
N.C. Department of Transportation Driveway Permit
The property owner is responsible for obtaining the required permit for
access to the state-maintained road. This permit can be obtained from the
Department of Transportation in Roxboro. Permits are normally granted on
request.
Minimum Construction Standards for Private Roads
Amended January 7, 2002 Page 9
Minimum Curve Radius
Curves shall be constructed with a minimum centerline radius of 150
feet. The right of way must be designed with bends that will provide sufficient
width to construct the road to this minimum radius. For example: a 90 degree
bend in a 50 foot right of way will not provide enough area to construct a road
18 feet in width. The right of way must include sufficient width for the
travelway and the necessary shoulders, ditches and slopes.
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Amended January 7, 2002 Page 10
Minimum Construction Standards for Private Roads
Amended January 7, 2002 Page 11