COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
MASSACHUSETTS HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES
Subject: Use of Police Details & Road Flaggers on Projects with
Private Utility Company Relocations
Effective:
Issued:
Supersedes ALL Pages of
S.O.P. No.:
9/1/09
9/23/09
Effective:
S.O.P. No.: CSD 23-16-1-000
Page 1 of 2
Distribution:
B
Authorized:
Luisa Paiewonsky
(signature on original)
PURPOSE
This SOP establishes uniformity and consistency for all projects where utility relocation work is
performed by private utility companies requiring police details and/or civilian road flaggers. It
establishes the standard procedures and provides clarification for the use of police details and civilian
road flaggers on MassHighway construction projects with and without reimbursable utility agreements.
This SOP provides direction as to when and how a utility company will receive payment for the use of
police details and civilian road flaggers.
GENERAL
Projects with Reimbursable Utility Agreements:
For MassHighway construction projects with reimbursable utility agreements (projects that include force
account agreements), all police detail and/or civilian road flagger costs will be included in the utility
agreement cost estimate and scope of work. The required police details and civilian road flaggers shall
be paid for by the utility companies and reimbursed through the force account.
Projects without Reimbursable Utility Agreements:
For MassHighway construction projects without reimbursable utility agreements (projects that do not
include force account agreements), the utility companies, the project contractor and MassHighway field
personnel shall coordinate utility relocation work to make use of contractor work zones, traffic control
setups, police details and road flaggers when feasible. In the event utility relocation work is required
during off-hours from the project contractor’s work or the work is located outside of the contractor’s
work zone, the utility company is responsible for the payment of the police details and civilian road
flaggers.
INSTRUCTIONS
1.0 Projects with Reimbursable Utility Agreements
1.1 The Resident Engineer shall obtain a copy of the utility agreement from the Utilities
Engineer and shall be familiar with its provisions.
1.2 At the project pre-construction meeting, the use of police details and civilian road
flaggers for utility relocation work shall be discussed with the contractor, utility
company, police and flagger representatives.
1.3 On a weekly basis, or more frequently if necessary, the Resident Engineer, contractor,
and utility company shall meet to coordinate upcoming utility relocations prior to the
start of the work and approve the use and number of police details or flaggers for any
given operation. Contractor work zones, as well as traffic control setups, police details
and civilian road flaggers shall be utilized where possible for the utility work.
1.4 If the utility relocation work is required to be performed during off-hours from the
contractor’s work or the work is located outside of the contractor’s work zone, the
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
MASSACHUSETTS HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES
Subject: Use of Police Details & Road Flaggers on Projects with
Private Utility Company Relocations
Effective:
Issued:
Supersedes ALL Pages of
S.O.P. No.:
9/1/09
9/23/09
Effective:
S.O.P. No.: CSD 23-16-1-000
Page 2 of 2
Distribution:
B
Authorized:
Luisa Paiewonsky
(signature on original)
police details or road flaggers will be paid by the utility company and reimbursed
through the force account.
1.5 The Resident Engineer shall review the Daily Force Account Reports and will be
responsible for verifying that police details and civilian road flaggers are not paid twice
(once through the contract, and again through the force account).
2.0 Projects without Reimbursable Utility Agreements
2.1 At the project pre-construction meeting, the use of police details and civilian road
flaggers for utility relocation work shall be discussed with the contractor, utility
company, police and flagger representatives.
2.2 The Resident Engineer, contractor, and utility company shall meet to coordinate
upcoming utility work prior to the start of the work. Contractor work zones, as well as
traffic control setups, police details and road flaggers shall be utilized where possible
for the utility work.
2.3 If contractor work zones and traffic control setups are utilized, these police details or
civilian road flaggers should be paid for by the contractor and reimbursed by
MassHighway (either through the pay item for police details, Pay Item 999.001 Traffic
Police or through the road flaggers bid item, Pay Item 850.41 Roadway Traffic
Flaggers). If the Resident Engineer determines, due to safety concerns, that the utility
company’s use of the contractor work zone or setup requires additional police details
and/or civilian road flaggers, cones, drums or other warning devices, the utility
company will be responsible for the costs.
2.4 If the utility relocation work is required during off-hours from the contractor’s work or
the work is located outside of the contractor’s work zone and the utility company can
not make use of the contractor’s traffic control setups and the corresponding police
detail or road flaggers, the utility company is responsible for the payment of the
corresponding police detail or civilian road flagger.
2.5 The Resident Engineer and contractor shall note in their log book or diary, accordingly,
that the police detail or civilian road flagging was done off-hours from the contractor’s
work and/or was outside the contractor’s work zone.
REFERENCES
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S.O.P. No. CSD 24-40-1-000: Utility Agreements – Field and Office Requirements
S.O.P. No. CSD 24-40-3-123: Daily Force Account Report Form
MassHighway Utility Reimbursement Policy: Interoffice Memorandum dated April 25, 2008
from the Chief Engineer to All MassHighway Districts, Divisions, and Sections
Regulation 701 CMR Section 7.00
Standard Specification Item 850.41 Roadway Traffic Flaggers