A protected street includes any NYC roadway that has been resurfaced within the previous five years. Once the resurfacing date expands beyond the five year anniversary date, the roadway is no longer protected.
Qualifying a street as “protected” is one way that NYC monitors and preserves the roadways, the goal is to avoid sinkholes, speed bumps and keep the roadway surface as smooth as possible.
What does a protected roadway mean when repairing your water main or sewer?
First the contractor must obtain a special permit to work on a protected roadway including the additional cost associated with the permit. The next step requires the licensed plumber to schedule an inspection with DOT for the back-fill of the roadway. The process includes submitting for a confirmation number on the DOT protected streets website and scheduling a DOT inspector to be on site and monitor the back-fill.
The plumber is also required to hire a third part soil compaction company who will test both the density and moisture levels of the soil as it is back-filled into the roadway. The test and back-fill is monitored by the DOT inspector to ensure the future integrity of our roadways.
The process is required regardless of the type of work that is being performed, you may have a emergency water main break or the gas company may be installing a new service line. If you are opening a protected roadway you are required to follow the protected street protocol.
