The county engineer shall, at the time he makes surveys, plans, profiles, cross sections, estimates, and specifications for any county, township, or district road improvement, or plans for the construction, improvement or repair of any bridge or culvert, determine whether the making of the improvement will require the closing to traffic of such highway, bridge, or culvert. The engineer shall, whenever practicable, so prepare the plans and specifications for an improvement as to avoid closing to traffic at any one time the entire width of the highway or bridge being improved. No person shall close a county or township highway, bridge, or culvert, unless that action has first been determined to be necessary by the engineer. If the engineer determines that the making of the improvement will require the closing to traffic of the highway, bridge, or culvert, he shall further determine whether it is practicable to construct within the limits of the highway or to provide a new location for and construct a temporary highway, bridge, or culvert, to be used by travelers in lieu of the closed highway, bridge, or culvert. His determination in respect to all matters above set forth shall be made in writing, and shall accompany the copy of his surveys, plans, profiles, cross sections, estimates, and specifications filed with the board of county commissioners or board of township trustees.

If the engineer determines that it is practicable to provide a new location for and construct a temporary highway, bridge, or culvert he shall include plans for the temporary highway, bridge, or culvert as part of the plan for the improvement.

If he determines that it is impracticable to construct a temporary highway, bridge, or culvert he shall include as a part of the plans for the improvement plans, specifications, and estimates for all necessary and proper barriers and detour signs. Signs must be so placed as to conspicuously indicate the points at which it is necessary for traffic to leave the closed highway, and plainly mark the most direct practicable route to be followed, indicating the road to be followed by the detoured traffic at all road crossings and forks. The costs and expenses of constructing temporary highways, bridges, or culverts, or placing barriers and detour signs shall be included in and regarded as a part of the costs and expenses of the improvement and shall be paid accordingly. All temporary highways, bridges, or culverts and all detour signs shall be maintained by the contractor until the permanent highway, bridge, or culvert is completed and reopened for traffic. No contractor or engineer shall, when the county is proceeding by force account, close any highway, bridge, or culvert until such temporary highway, bridge, or culvert has been constructed or such barriers and detour signs have been placed. Immediately upon the reopening of the highway, bridge, or culvert the contractor, or the engineer in case the county is proceeding by force account, shall immediately remove all barriers and detour signs. Only such portion of any highway shall be closed at any one time as is determined necessary by the engineer.

For the purpose of locating, constructing, and erecting temporary highways or bridges the engineer may enter upon lands adjoining or near a highway to be closed, and may, with the approval of the board of county commissioners or board of township trustees, agree with the owners of the lands as to damage caused thereby. If the proper officers are unable to agree with the owners as to the amount of damages sustained, the amount thereof shall be ascertained, determined, and paid as in the case of the condemnation of road materials.

Effective Date: 11-02-1989 .