(1) In case any public property shall be dug up, excavated, undermined, cut, disturbed or obstructed, or any obstruction placed thereon, the person, firm or corporation causing the same shall erect, and so long as the condition exists, and any danger may continue, maintain around the portion of the public properties a good and sufficient barrier, watchman, guards, barricades, signals, signing, such as “Construction,” “No Parking,” “Street Closed,” and “Detour,” lighting and such other safeguards as may be required, at all unsafe places on the work at his own expense to protect persons and property from injury, all of which shall be approved by the City Engineer or the safety inspector for the Department of Labor and Industries of the State of Washington. He shall also cause to be maintained securely and conspicuously posted, during every night from sunset to daylight, around and at each end of such obstruction, a lighted lantern or lamp wherever necessary showing a red light or approved red flasher light, flares or flare pots at his own expense. If the excavation is 10 feet or less long, one such light or flare shall be so maintained; if it is over 10 feet long but less than 50 feet long, three such lights or flares shall be so maintained, with one at each end of it; and for excavations longer than 50 feet, such lights or flares shall be maintained on every 25 feet or part thereof for longitudinal cuts, but such lights or flares shall be maintained at six-foot intervals for transverse cuts; provided, that during the nighttime or during the daytime when due to climatic or other causes the visibility is less than 150 feet on 25-mile per hour streets and 300 feet on 35-mile per hour streets the permittee shall maintain sufficient red lights to warn of the barricaded excavation.

(2) The permittee shall provide adequate warning signs and devices in a position of maximum effectiveness. The minimum requirement for warning signs when necessary shall be a set of advance warning signs placed on all primary approaches to the work, set at a minimum distance of 400 feet, but as required by best visibility; sufficient signs and markers in the immediate vicinity of the job shall also be maintained.

(3) Red flags shall be placed around at each end of obstructions at intervals of not more than 60 feet along the entire course of the excavation. Special care shall be exercised to prevent vehicles, pedestrians and livestock from falling into open trenches or being otherwise harmed as a result of the work. Wherever in the course of the work temporary fences are required either for the protection of livestock or any other reason, it shall be permittee’s responsibility to provide the material and construct such fences in a manner satisfactory to the City Engineer. Upon completion of the work, fences so constructed shall be removed by the permittee. Whenever public properties are to be closed to traffic for a definite length of time or for a period of time as directed by the City Engineer, the permittee shall completely barricade each of the public properties leading to the improvement with barriers. It is unlawful for any person to tamper with lawfully erected barricades, signs, signals, lights, flares or flare pots where they are erected as required by this chapter. [Ord. 1021 § 10, 1961; Code 1970 § 12.24.130; Code 1954 § 4-5.52.]