This bill amends the existing law regarding the construction and maintenance of utility lines and structures on public highways in Michigan. It allows telegraph, telephone, power, and other public utility companies, as well as cable television and broadband companies, to enter upon and maintain their infrastructure on public roads and rights-of-way, provided they obtain consent from the local governing body. The bill introduces new provisions that require the state transportation department to establish standards for the collocation of projects, including aboveground lines, in limited access highway rights-of-way. It also specifies that the placement of these structures must not increase maintenance costs for the state transportation department.

Additionally, the bill establishes a new section (Sec. 13a) that mandates the state transportation department to coordinate with utilities and transmission companies to identify permittable locations for transmission lines along highway corridors. It requires the department to share plans for future projects that may affect these placements and to prepare a constructability report for collocation projects. This report must outline the terms and conditions for construction and include a timeframe during which the department will not request the relocation of the transmission line. The bill aims to streamline the process for utility companies while ensuring that infrastructure development does not impede highway maintenance or operations.

Statutes affected:
Substitute (H-2): 247.183
House Introduced Bill: 247.183
As Passed by the House: 247.183