Accommodation of Wireline on Freeway Right of Way

Retired - formerly MnDOT Policy 6.6, Guideline 6.6-G1, Procedure 6.6-P1
View/print signed policy rescission (PDF)

Policy statement

Excerpt from the current policy: “This policy applies to longitudinal installation of wireline facilities used for the transmission of voice, data, and/or video communications.”

Reason for retiring the policy

The policy was written in response to interest from telecommunication providers in accessing MnDOT freeway rights of way for deployment of wireline facilities. The policy applies only to highway purpose share resources facilities such as lighting, Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) and Regional Transportation Management Center (RTMC). Other public or private facilities are covered by the MnDOT Policy Utility Accommodation of Highway Right of Way and Manual. Since the adoption of the accommodation policy in 2006, MnDOT has not utilized the policy and does not anticipate a need in the foreseeable future.

The Code of Federal Regulations (23 CFR § 645.215(a)) requires each state transportation department to submit to its Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Division Administrator a statement on the authority of utilities to use and occupy the right of way of federal-aid highways, the authority of the state to regulate such use, and the policies the state employs or proposes to employ for accommodating utilities within the right of way of any highway project receiving federal aid.

The MnDOT Policy Utility Accommodation of Highway Right of Way and Manual were developed in accordance with Minnesota statutes and rules, federal statutes and regulations, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Program Guide: Utility Relocation and Accommodation on Federal-Aid Highway Projects, and applicable American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) publications.