Section R17-6-104. Additional Special Permit Requirements and Restrictions; Engineering Analysis

A.      To promote safe transport of oversize and overweight vehicles, or vehicle and load combinations, the Department’s Class C Maintenance Permit Services section shall evaluate each class C special permit application to determine, on a case-by-case basis, whether additional permit requirements or restrictions are appropriate and necessary as a condition of permit approval. The Department’s decision to require additional per- mit restrictions shall be based on its consideration of:

1.        Bridge capacities;

2.        Load size and weight;

3.        Pavement stress;

4.        Road width, grade, and condition; and

5.        Traffic dynamics of the proposed route.

B.       The Department shall require a special permit applicant to obtain an engineering analysis for transport of an overweight vehicle or vehicle and load combination:

1.        Exceeding 250,000 pounds;

2.        Exceeding the maximum permitted weight computations for overweight axle group weight distribution as provided under R17-6-411; or

3.        Exceeding a bridge weight restriction provided under R17-6-412, Table 4.

C.      If the Department requires an engineering analysis of a pro- posed route as a condition of permit approval, and is unable to dedicate the employee resources necessary to timely complete the required analysis, a special permit applicant may obtain an analysis prepared by a non-Department engineer at the appli- cant’s own expense.

1.        An engineer registered by the Arizona State Board of Technical Registration in structural or civil engineering, as prescribed under A.R.S. Title 32, Chapter 1, shall pre- pare an engineering analysis of the proposed route according to industry standards.

2.        The special permit applicant shall submit to the Depart- ment for review any engineering analysis prepared by a non-Department engineer.

3.        An engineering analysis prepared according to the fol- lowing publications, available on the Department’s web site at www.azdot.gov, complies with industry standards:

a.        The most recently published edition of the AAS- HTO Manual for Bridge Evaluation, including all interims, standards, or guidelines;

b.        The most recently published edition of the AAS- HTO Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD) - Bridge Design Specifications, including all interims, standards, or guidelines; and

c.        The ADOT Bridge Load Rating Guidelines and Bridge Design Guidelines.

4.        The non-Department engineer shall certify that an appli- cant’s overweight vehicle will not overstress or damage any element of:

a.        A highway structure, or

b.        Any other state property.

D.      An applicant for a class C special permit shall submit to the Department, at the time of special permit application, all appli- cable fees required under R17-6-204 for preparation or review of an engineering analysis.

E.       An applicant for a class C special permit may resubmit an engineering analysis approved by the Department within the previous 12 months if:

1.        The size and weight of the applicant’s vehicle and load are identical to the previously approved permit applica- tion;

2.        The segments of the applicant’s proposed route are within the outer limits of the previously approved route; and

3.        The condition of the highway structure or other state property has not changed.

F.       The Department shall conduct a separate review and approval process for each engineering analysis submitted under this Section.

G.      If the applicant’s engineering analysis shows that a highway structure will not support the overweight vehicle as requested, the Department shall deny the application for a class C special permit.

H.      If the Department determines a potential traffic safety risk exists, a class C special permit applicant shall submit to the Department a comprehensive traffic control plan as provided under R17-6-108.

I.        The Department of Transportation, the Department of Public Safety, or any other law enforcement entity lawfully autho- rized to provide certified weights may weigh a class C special permitted vehicle and load exceeding 250,000 pounds, or require the applicant to have the vehicle and load weighed as prescribed under A.R.S. § 28-1102.

Historical Note

New Section made by final rulemaking at 9 A.A.R. 665, effective April 8, 2003 (Supp. 03-1). Amended by final

rulemaking at 19 A.A.R. 2486, effective September 7,

2013 (Supp. 13-3).