Utility Inspection Processes for Transportation Accommodation and Relocation

State departments of transportation (DOTs) regularly negotiate contractual agreements with utility owners during project development and delivery, which includes issuing permits that enable utility owners to occupy public rights-of-way (ROW). At times, these agreements may remain in place after a project is completed. State DOTs and local agencies review and approve each proposed utility installation to ensure the latest amended installation or any relocation complies with a state DOT’s utility accommodation policies and rules, relevant specifications/provisions, and industry standards or specifications. Additionally, field verification processes are integral components for monitoring and certifying that proposed utility installations or relocations have been constructed and/or installed according to the utility construction documents and plans. Field verifications are a potential utility-related risk that could also be attributed to communication oversights between utility owners and transportation agencies (e.g., notification of construction start time and providing sufficient lead time for a state DOT’s inspectors). Other barriers identified include limited resources and tools to conduct inspections (e.g., guidelines, workforce readiness, and formal inspection training/certification). Research is needed to develop essential field oversight processes during utility installation and relocation. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this research is to develop a guide for state DOTs to assist with field verification processes for utility installation and relocation.

• Record URL:
  • http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=5667
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Contract to a Performing Organization has not yet been awarded.

Language

• English

Project

• Funding: $500000
• Contract Numbers:

  Project 10-143

• Sponsor Organizations:

  National Cooperative Highway Research Program

  Transportation Research Board
  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)

  444 North Capitol Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Project Managers:

  McKenney, Christopher

• Start Date: 20241104
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Best practices; Inspection; Project management; Public utilities; Test procedures
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Construction; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01919866
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Research Board
• Contract Numbers: Project 10-143
• Files: TRB, RIP
• Created Date: May 28 2024 4:24PM