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Electrical (16000-16999)

837010 PROVIDE AND INSTALL PEDESTRIAN PUSHBUTTON WITH SIGN EACH

DE · 2025 Standard SpecificationsBook pages 519–523View official source ↗

SPAN WIRE AND MESSENGER WIRE SECTION 838

509 SECTION 838 — SPAN WIRE AND MESSENGER WIRE

838.1Description.

This work consists of providing, placing, transferring, adjusting, relocating, or removing span wire, messenger wire, and associated attachments.

838.2Materials.

A.Span Wire and Messenger Wire Section 1076

838.3Construction.

838.3.1 Span Wire.

A.Provide and install span wire on steel or wood poles in accordance with the contract. The engineer

will specify the tension of the installed span wire and the attachment height. Apply tension to the span wire using a tensioning device with a minimum capacity of 6,000 -pounds pull.

B.For span wire between wood poles, prepare the poles as follows:

1.Install 2 strain plates on each pole, 1 on the side facing traffic and 1 on the opposite side away

from traffic, in accordance with the Standard Construction Details .

2.Install 2 guy hooks on each pole, 1 on the side facing traffic and 1 on the opposite side away

from traffic, in accordance with the Standard Construction Details .

C.Place span wire in accordance with applicable electrical and safety codes. Install strain insulators

based on field conditions and as directed by the engineer. Equip each span with 2 strain insulators unless otherwise directed by the engineer. Install t he strain insulator no less than 8 feet above the ground if the span wire is broken below the insulator.

D.Attach span wire to the poles and strain insulators in the following manner:

1.Wrap the span wire, starting at the pole nearest the strain insulator, 1 .5 times around the pole

with the end of the span wire extending back parallel with the span. Do not allow the span wire to cross over or overlap itself on the pole.

2.Place 2 galvanized guy clamps on the span wire end -to-end. Place one 2 1/5-feet from the pole

and place the second clamp 1 -inch away from the first.

3.Extend the end of the span wire at least 3 -feet from the last clamp and secure the span wire

with a service sleeve.

4.Place a strain insulator by doubling back the span wire through the hole in the insulator. Attach

the doubled back span wire to the other span wire using 2 galvanized guy clamps placed end -to- end at a distance of 1 -foot from the strain insulator. Extend the end of the span wire at least 3 - feet from the last clamp and secure the span wire with a service sleeve.

5.Attach a span wire to the other side of the strain insulator in the same manner as in step 4.

6.Wrap the span wire around the far pole to complete the system. Tension the span wire to

achieve the tension in accordance with the contract. Use the tensioning device on the end of the span farthest from the strain insulator. Wrap and clamp the wire in the same manner as described above in steps 1 and 2. Extend the end of the span wire at least 3 -feet from the last clamp and secure the span wire with a service sleeve. SPAN WIRE AND MESSENGER WIRE SECTION 838

510 838.3.2 Dead End Messenger Wire Attachment.

A.The engineer shall specify the tension of the messenger wire in the dead -end attachment.

B.Wood Poles.

1.Drill a hole through the wood pole at the height specified by the engineer and install an eyebolt

with washers on each end.

2.If the engineer determines that a down guy assembly is required, install a down guy attachment

on the back of the pole instead of the back washer. Tighten the nut on the eyebolt assembly enough to compress the down guy attachment. Install the second nut to act as a lock nut. Attach the service wedge clamp and messenger wire to the eyebolt.

C.Steel Poles.

1.Wrap the messenger wire around the steel pole 1 .5 times with the end of the messenger wire

extending back parallel with the messenger wire run. Do not allow the span wire to cross over or overlap itself on the pole. Place 2 galvanized clamps on the messenger wire end, in accordance with the Standard Construction Details .

2.Extend the end of the messenger wire at least 3 -feet from the last clamp and secure the

messenger wire with a service sleeve. 838.3.3 Intermediate Messenger Wire Attachment.

A.Wood Poles Only.

1.Install a straight run intermediate messenger wire attachment as follows:

a.Tension the messenger wire as directed by the engineer, then fit the proper clamp over the

messenger wire and tighten the outside 2 clamp bolts.

b.Drill a hole through the pole at the height specified by the engineer.

c.Install a machine bolt through the center bolt hole of the clamp, the guy hook, the pole, and

the washer. Tighten with a nut. Install a second nut as a lock nut.

d.Install a parallel groove connector on the messenger wire within 6 -inches of the clamp. Install

the #4 split -bolt connector onto the wood pole ground wire. Install a #6 AWG solid copper wire between the parallel groove connector and the split -bolt connector and tighten all hardware.

B.Install an angular run intermediate messenger wire attachment as follows:

1.Drill a hole through the pole at the height specified by the engineer.

2.Install an eyebolt through the washer, the pole, and the back washer. Install a guy attachment

on the back of the pole instead of the back washer, if a down guy assembly is shown in the plans or directed to be installed by the engineer. Tighten the nut on the eyebolt assembly enough to compress the down guy attachment. Install the second nut to act as a lock nut.

3.Attach the 2 service wedge clamps and the messenger wire to the eyebolt assembly, as shown in

the contract.

4.Install a parallel groove connector on the messenger wire within 6-inches of the eyebolt. Install

the #4 split -bolt connector onto the wood pole ground wire. Install a #6 AWG solid copper wire between the parallel groove connector and the split -bolt connector and tighten all hardware. 838.3.4 Adjusting Span or Messenger Wire. SPAN WIRE AND MESSENGER WIRE SECTION 838

511 A. Adjust existing span or messenger wire including tightening, raising and tightening, loosening, or other work, only as directed by the engineer.

B.Tighten or raise and tighten existing span or messenger wire.

Tap the span or messenger wire to the designed height after removing tension.

C.To tighten the span or messenger wire, attach another tensioning device between the loose end

of the span or messenger wire and the span and tighten. After reaching the designed tension, re - tighten the 3 -bolt guy clamps and remove tensioning devices. Adjust the span bonding jumper as required. The engineer will decide if adjustment is needed at both ends of 1 span to tighten or raise and tighten the span or messenger wire.

D.To loosen an existing span or messenger wire, attach a tensioning device between the pole and

span or messenger wire beyond the strain insulator. Loosen or remove the two, 3 -bolt guy clamps. Adjust the span bonding jumper as required. 838.3.5 Relocating of Messenger Attachment. Drill a hole in the existing pole. Take care that the cable and attachment raised or lowered and installed using the same hardware on the same pole location does not require removal of the wire from the messenger. Adjust the messenger bonding jumper as required. 838.3.6 Transfer of Existing Span or Messenger Attachment. Drill a hole in the new pole. Move the cable and attachment to the new pole and install using the hardware from the original pole. Provide additional hardware if needed to attach the span or messenger to the new pole. Reattach the messenger bonding jumper to the new pole ground wire. 838.3.7 Removing Messenger Wire, Cable, and Hardware.

A.Remove messenger wire, cable, and hardware with an attached cable or of a cable with a built -in

messenger wire in place between poles. This item does not apply to removing a cable from a messenger wire that remains in place or removing a messenger wire with no attached cable.

B.Use a tensioning device to remove the tension from the clamps before release. Lower the

messenger wire to the ground after removing the clamps and releasing the remaining tension. Detach the cable that is lashed or taped to the messenger wire.

838.4Method of Measurement.

A.The Department will measure the quantity of:

1.Span wire cable between poles by the linear foot from the center of 1 pole or structure to the

center of pole or structure the wire is attached to and accepted. The Department will not measure span wire wrapped around the pole or structure.

2.Dead end, intermediate, or angular messenger wire attachments as the number of attachments

made to a pole and accepted. The Department will measure down guy assemblies in accordance with Section 840.

3.Adjusted span or messenger wires as the number of span or messenger wires adjusted and

accepted.

4.Relocations as the number of messenger wire attachments relocated and accepted.

5.Span or messenger attachment transfers as the number of span or messenger wire attachments

transferred and accepted. SPAN WIRE AND MESSENGER WIRE SECTION 838

512 6. Messenger wire removed and returned as the number of linear feet of messenger wire with attached cable removed and returned to the DelDOT Sign Shop.

838.5Basis of Payment.

A.The Department will pay the quantity of span wire placed and accepted at the contract unit price.

Price and payment constitute full compensation for providing and placing span wire and all related hardware. The Department will consider the following as included in the pay item and will make no separate payment for:

1.Wood pole preparation.

2.Labor and materials to attach span wire between poles.

3.Span wire wrapped around the pole or structure.

4.Installation of span insulators.

B.The Department will pay the quantity of dead end, intermediate or angular intermediate

messenger wire attachments made to a pole and accepted at the contract unit price. Price and payment will constitute full compensation for providing the messenger wir e attachment hardware and attaching the wire to a wood or steel pole. The Department will pay for down guy assemblies in accordance with Section 840.

C.The Department will pay the quantity of span or messenger wires adjusted and accepted at the

contract unit price. Price and payment will constitute full compensation for tightening, raising, or loosening the span or messenger wire. The Department will make no separate payment for removing or installing tape on a span to clear a path for tensioning devices.

D.The Department will pay the quantity of relocated messenger attachments completed and

accepted at the contract unit price. Price and payment constitute full compensation for all work and materials required to relocate messenger attachments.

E.The Department will pay the quantity of transferred span or messenger attachments completed

and accepted at the contract unit price. Price and payment constitute full compensation for all work and materials required to transfer span or messenger attachments.

F.The Department will pay the quantity of messenger wire removed and disposed of and accepted

at the contract unit price. Price and payment constitute full compensation for all work and materials required to remove and dispose of messenger wire, cable, and attachments. ITEM DESCRIPTION UNIT 838001 PROVIDE AND INSTALL SPAN WIRES, 7/16” LF 838002 PROVIDE AND INSTALL SPAN WIRES, 1/4” LF 838003 PROVIDE AND INSTALL DEAD END MESSENGER WIRE ATTACHMENT EACH 838004 PROVIDE AND INSTALL INTERMEDIATE MESSENGER WIRE ATTACHMENT EACH 838005 PROVIDE AND INSTALL ANGULAR INTERMEDIATE MESSENGER WIRE EACH 838006 ADJUSTMENT OF SPAN OR MESSENGER WIRE EACH 838007 RELOCATION OF MESSENGER ATTACHMENT EACH 838008 TRANSFER OF EXISTING SPAN OR MESSENGER ATTACHMENTS EACH SPAN WIRE AND MESSENGER WIRE SECTION 838

513 ITEM DESCRIPTION UNIT 838009 REMOVAL OF MESSENGER WIRE, CABLE AND HARDWARE LF

Source: Delaware Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction, 2025 Edition. Pages 519–523 of 779.

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