A trenchless crossing under existing infrastructure may be conditioned by permits, authorizations or favorable reports from the owner of the affected infrastructure and from the competent administrations. The most common are permits from roads, railroads, waterways, coasts, city councils, the environment, urban service owners and water, energy, gas or telecommunications network managers.
In projects of pipe ramming, horizontal directional drilling, Direct Pipe o microtunneling in terrestrial and subway applications, These permits can influence the layout, depth, location of wells, work windows, monitoring controls, time frame and documentary scope of the work.
Most common permits and authorizations
Roads and highways:
When the crossing affects a road, highway or urban road, authorization may be required from the owner of the road: Ministry, autonomous community, county council, town council or concessionaire. Usually, gauges, depth, temporary occupation, effect on traffic, signaling, auscultation, repositioning and emergency plan are reviewed.
Railroads:
In crossings under railway lines, the owner or manager of the infrastructure may require specific technical documentation, verification of settlements, minimum coverage, construction procedure, track auscultation, working windows, vibration limitations and protocols for action in the event of incidents.
Watercourses, rivers and public water domain:
If the crossing crosses a river, stream, wadi, ravine or flood zone, authorization from the corresponding basin organization or hydraulic administration may be required. In these cases, the following are reviewed: effects on the riverbed, depth, stability, erosion, flooding, easements, water quality and environmental measures. It can be applied in river and watercourse crossings.
Coasts, beaches and maritime-terrestrial public domain:
Coastal administrations, ports, maritime authorities and environmental agencies may intervene in outfalls, intakes, coastal pipelines or port areas. These permits condition especially the layout, work area, environmental windows, bathymetry, land-marine connection and protection measures. It is relevant in submarine emissaries y sea water catchments.
City Councils and occupation of public roads:
In urban areas, construction permits, occupancy permits, traffic cuts or detours, loading and unloading authorizations, waste management, work schedules, noise, lighting, fencing, pedestrian safety and coordination with municipal services may be required.
Environment and protected areas:
When the route affects protected areas, natural spaces, watercourses, coastline, bodies of water or sensitive areas, environmental assessments, sectoral reports, preventive measures, monitoring plans, seasonal restrictions or additional documentation may be required. This can be critical in crossings of marine protected areas.
Owners of existing services:
Water, sewage, electricity, gas, telecommunications, fiber optics, drainage or industrial facilities may require authorization, compatibility reports, minimum distances, protection of services, prior location and emergency procedures.
Permits for auxiliary civil works:
The location of vertical pits for driving and microtunneling, The company may also require specific permits for occupancy, safety, traffic, dumping, waste or electricity supply, as well as permits for stockpiles, cranes, sheds, sludge plants, pumping or access.
How permits influence crossing design
Permits are not just an administrative formality: they can technically modify the solution. An owner may require a greater depth, a change in layout, separation from foundations or services, specific auscultation, a specific construction method, time restrictions, execution in specific windows or additional documentation before authorizing the work.
Therefore, in infrastructure crossings, In addition, it is important to identify at an early stage which administrations and owners are involved, what technical conditions apply and what documentation must be included in the project or in the bidding process.
Documentation that usually facilitates processing
To process or coordinate permits, it usually helps to have:
- Plan and longitudinal profile of the crossing.
- Depth, coverage and separation from existing infrastructure.
- Diameter, material and use of the conduction.
- Geotechnical and hydrogeology available.
- Location and dimensions of wells.
- Planned construction method.
- Plan for monitoring and control of settlements.
- Identification of affected services.
- Traffic, occupancy and access plan.
- Environmental measures and waste management.
- Emergency and incident procedures.
- Schedule and planned work windows.
Minimum checklist for permits: infrastructure owner, plan and profile, depth, coverage, geotechnics, affected services, location of wells, trenchless method, auscultation, traffic plan, environmental permits, temporary occupations, schedule and owner's conditions.
Request a technical review of constraints and permits for a trenchless crossing before closing the layout or preparing the bidding documentation.
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