Special heavy-vehicle use has its own county order

The October 2023 Special Road Use order addresses heavy traffic beyond normal anticipated road use, including oil/gas activity and heavy commodity transport. When the Commissioners Court determines that such use may seriously damage or destroy a road, the order calls for $100,000 per mile payable to the Commissioners Court for road repair. Do not apply that amount to every utility crossing.

Utility construction follows the affected precinct's review

A published utility-easement application requires a location map, utility description, road relationship, bore/encasement details and proposed dates. Its conditions allow the precinct commissioner to require a repair/damage bond in an amount determined for the job, rather than stating the heavy-use order's per-mile amount.

The utility conditions call for restoration of disturbed ROW, drainage protection and notification to the commissioner after crossing or parallel construction so an inspection can be made. These installation conditions should not be presented as the terms of a heavy-haul instrument.

Resolve the instrument before purchase

Give the county the road segment, precinct, utility installation or vehicle-use description and requested principal. Obtain the applicable form and amount, then confirm that the existing Propeller option can issue that instrument.

After issuance, submit the required bond for county acceptance and obtain the applicable road-use or utility approval. A bond receipt does not grant an easement or approve use of a city or state-maintained road.