South Carolina General Assembly
116th Session, 2005-2006

Download This Version in Microsoft Word format

Bill 3373

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter


(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

AMENDED

March 9, 2005

H. 3373

Introduced by Reps. W.D. Smith, Walker, Sinclair, Davenport, Littlejohn, Mahaffey and Talley

S. Printed 3/9/05--S.    [SEC 3/10/05 3:03 PM]

Read the first time January 27, 2005.

            

A BILL

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 57-23-810 SO AS TO PROVIDE THAT THE PORTION OF ROADSIDE VEGETATION ADJACENT TO INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 26, INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 85, AND INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 585 IN SPARTANBURG COUNTY MAY BE MOWED BEYOND THIRTY FEET FROM THE PAVEMENT.

Amend Title To Conform

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION    1.    Section 57-23-800 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 17 of 1999, is amended to read:

"Section 57-23-800.    (A)    The Department of Transportation shall conduct vegetation management of the medians, roadsides, and interchanges under the jurisdiction of the State along the interstate highway system in accordance with the following requirements: at its discretion. However, before it implements a new vegetation management policy pursuant to this section, the department must consult with the local governmental authority that has jurisdiction over the portion of highway subject to the vegetation management policy.

(1)    a median of not more than sixty feet in width shall have its mowable area mowed in its entirety. A median wider than sixty feet shall only be mowed within thirty feet from the edges of the pavement.

(2)    a roadside shall be mowed thirty feet from the edge of the pavement. If fill slopes or back slopes are steep, one swath of the mower or not less than five feet shall be mowed on these slopes.

(3)    an interchange shall be mowed in the same manner as a roadside, provided that the distance from the pavement required to be mowed may be increased to address any safety concerns involved.

(B)    The mowing widths provided in subsection (A) may be increased when necessary to provide adequate visibility for signs erected by the department.

(C)    The vegetation management activities conducted by the department shall not interfere in any way with the visibility of any outdoor advertising sign.

(D)    If the Department of Natural Resources makes an assessment and written determination that vegetation management pursuant to this section causes an increase in safety risks because of the attraction of wildlife to a specific area along the highway, then the department may increase the distance from the pavement required to be mowed."

SECTION    2.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

----XX----

This web page was last updated on Tuesday, June 23, 2009 at 2:23 P.M.