Stock crossings

Introduction

The following policy applies where provision of stock crossings across, under or over a road have been requested to connect two parts of a property. 

Road protection where stock cross at grade

If the least long-term maintenance cost is to use a protective covering over the road (e.g. road/stock mats or a specialised seal coating), then this cost is eligible for funding assistance under Work category 111: Sealed pavement maintenance.

New Road Alignment The horizontal or vertical geometric form of the centreline of the carriageway.

When a new road alignment severs a rural property, the roading portion of an access structure may be included as part of the total road construction cost.

Cost sharing is to be considered on the following basis:

• where provision of a stock access structure can be made at a cost less than that involved in acquiring the severed area of land, the full cost of the access structure will be accepted as a charge to the roading improvement. This includes the value of any improvements.
• where the cost of providing an access structure exceeds the value of the severed land, no stock access structure shall be provided. This is where the value of improvements is included and the landowner is not prepared to sell the severed land. Note: Other options to be considered include:
  • the resale or exchange of the severed land, and
  • purchase and resale of both portions.

Existing Road Alignment The horizontal or vertical geometric form of the centreline of the carriageway.

Where existing and proposed stock movements on an existing road significantly affect road traffic, a proportion of the cost of constructing a stock access structure (including fees) will be accepted as a roading cost.

This roading cost may be included in the programme under Work category 341: Minor improvements.

Existing roads: proportion of cost

Figure 1 illustrates the proportion of an access structure’s cost that will be accepted as a roading cost, where the structure is to be built on an existing road alignment.

Note: Where a vehicle accident record exists, the project should be considered as a road improvement project. If the project has an investment assessment profile The three-part rating for an activity, rated as high, medium or low e.g. HMM, and representing the assessment for Strategic Fit, Effectiveness, and Benefit and Cost Appraisal respectively. better or equal to the prevailing funding threshold profile, the total cost should be accepted as a roading cost.

Form of structure

The form of the stock access structure should be determined by the needs of the landowner, subject to approval of the design by the Approved Organisation or the Transport Agency (state highways).

Agreements with landowner

The Transport Agency requires that the Approved Organisation or the Transport Agency (state highways) obtains a written undertaking from the landowner that any at grade stock crossing will be eliminated immediately on completion of the access structure.

The Approved Organisation or the Transport Agency (state highways) should also consider an encumbrance to be registered against the title of the property affected by the under or overpass A grade separation where the traffic passes over an intersecting road or railway. . For a template of an encumbrance, refer to the Road Controlling Authority Forum’s stock crossing guidelines. 

Maintenance

Any repairs to the stock access structure may be included in work category 114: structures maintenance. However, at a minimum, the landowner will be responsible for the cost of:

• maintenance of the track through the structure
• associated drainage and fencing
• the repair of any damage to the structure caused by the landowner’s use or activity.

Cost sharing for stock underpasses A grade separation where the traffic passes under an intersecting highway or railway. or overpasses

Figure 1

Formula for cost sharing for stock underpasses A grade separation where the traffic passes under an intersecting highway or railway. or overpasses

CS        =          0.05 * AADT Annual average daily traffic (on roads having less than 500 AADT) in percent

Where:

CS        =          25 percent (on roads having greater than or equal to 500 AADT Annual average daily traffic )

CS        =          Approved Organisations’ or Transport Agency’s (state highways)

                        contribution, including the Transport Agency’s

                        funding assistance, to the total construction cost of

                        an access structure on an existing road (in percent)

AADT Annual average daily traffic    =          average traffic volume The number of vehicles flowing in both directions past a particular point in a given time (e.g. vehicles per hour or vehicles per day). per day