Drainage and Waterway Encroachment Planning Guide & Construction Procedures

Preparation of Construction Drawings for Engineering Review Process

The following information may be used to aid in the preparation of construction drawings for engineering review process by the railroad company and may expedite the approval of the drawings by the railroad for consideration of a drainage facilities on the right of way.

  1. The drainage ditch must be located at the outer limits of the railroad company right of way within 5 feet of property line and a minimum of 35 feet from centerline of nearest track with a flat bottom drainage ditch for future maintenance.
  2. The drainage structure plans must be approved and stamped by a registered engineer for the state the structure is to be located in.
  3. The following must be shown on the drawings: bridges, culverts, signal, signal houses, and other signal facilities, street, and road crossings, overpasses and bridge piers in relation to track and drainage facilities, pole line, railroad mile post, streets and name of streets, river, fences, underground facilities, railroad right of way, all necessary dimensions measured at right angles to the main track, and any other information which could be helpful.
  4. All excavations and back filling must be done using workmanship acceptable to the railroad. All back filling must be placed in a maximum of 6-inch layers and compacted to 95% of maximum standard density as determined by ASTM T-99 or ASTM D698. All areas disturbed in any manner must be reseeded in a manner to prevent erosion using a grass seed mixture native to the area.
  5. Drainage ditches cannot be installed in the slope of cut or fill sections of the roadbed nor can the slope of cut or fill sections of the roadbed be benched, unless permission has been obtained from the vice president of engineering services office in writing to do otherwise. Drainage ditches found in the slope section of the roadbed without permission to be installed there will have to be removed and the slope restored to Union Pacific's satisfaction at the complete cost of the applicant. In addition, the owner will be liable for all damage cost to train operations and roadbed restoration costs due to a slip or slide caused by improper installation of the drainage ditch or structure being installed in the slope without the permission from the railroad company.
  6. Any proposed pipeline crossings may use the Standard Pipeline Crossings Applications (see information on Pipeline Procedures). Each crossing location must be filled out separately, Track bores must be a minimum of 60 inches below base of rail. Wet bores are not permitted on Union Pacific Railroad property. The ends of steel casings (see Union Pacific Common Standard 1029) will have to be a minimum of 30 feet from centerline of the track when measured at right angle to the track. Also bore pits must be a minimum of 30 feet from the centerline of the track when measured at right angle to the track. Also bore pits must be a minimum of 30 feet from centerline of track when measured at right angles to the track. In addition, no bore pits can be located in the slope of a cut or fill section of the road bed. The bore pit size must be kept to a minimum.
  7. Manholes must be capable of withstanding H-20 highway loading requirements and must be installed so as not to create a stumbling hazard.
  8. Construction drawings submitted to the railroad must contain the following information in addition to Nos. 2 and 3 above:
    1. General notes along with the symbols and their meanings.
    2. A sheet showing all the special details.
    3. Small scale maps showing overall drainage routes.
    4. Sheet showing all details for installation at track. Include all shoring plans (sealed by registered professional engineer in the respective state).
    5. As built drawings shall be provided on standard railroad right of way maps to standards specified by railroad.
  9. Before work can begin on railroad rights of way, the agreement between Union Pacific and the owner must be fully executed. An agreement between the railroad and the contractor must also be fully executed, and employees of the applicant and its contractor personnel that will be on and about railroad property must have a copy of the Minimum Safety Requirements for Contractors Exhibit B and be safety-trained by a Union Pacific Project Inspector.

Construction Procedures

  1. The drainage facilities must be located behind (field side) all signal facilities because of the numerous underground signal cable running between track and the signal facility. Signal department personnel will remove and replace all guy wires on railroad poles lines.
  2. Trees or brush must be chipped to _ inch size and can be blown onto railroad rights of way or removed from site; however, care must be taken not to obstruct ditches, streams tracks, railroad structures, or private property. Trees or brush which cannot be chipped to _ inch size must be removed from the right of way.
  3. Please keep in mind it normal takes three weeks to obtain flagman for a project; therefore, work schedules will have to be planned accordingly.
  4. Adequate barrier protection is required for all excavation on railroad right of way to protect individuals from falling into holes.
  5. Grading is required on the railroad right of way on all areas disturbed by construction to prevent ponding or storm water.
  6. Erosion protection must be established on all areas disturbed by construction using perennial grasses native to areas.
  7. All drainage projects approved by the railroad company may require a railroad flagman for work within 25 feet of the track and on the railroad right of way at applicant's expense.
  8. All costs incurred for any and all parts of review, approval and construction will be at applicant's expense.