Reconciling One-Call Results and Actual Location of Existing Utilities: A Compendium

Highway contractors are legally obligated to contact the One-Call system prior to initiating construction, regardless of the accuracy or completeness of the utility information in the contract bid package. This requirement is mandated by damage prevention laws and regulations to ensure safety and prevent damage to underground utilities. Standard practices will have the utility markings within industry-accepted tolerances, typically around 6 inches horizontally, and should match the information given to the state departments of transportation (DOTs) and the highway contractor(s) involved. However, when the utility markings exceed accepted tolerances, this occurrence creates uncertainty for the state DOT or highway contractor. Understanding the location and impacts of utility owners’ infrastructure continues to be key to successful completion of highway projects, which requires thorough and accurate information about existing or relocated utility facilities in every contract bid package. In January 2000, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) commissioned a study titled, Cost Savings on Highway Projects Utilizing Subsurface Utility Engineering, which has been instrumental in promoting the use of subsurface utility engineering (SUE) as a practice to reduce project costs and risks. State DOTs are also incorporating utility investigations using the ASCE 38-22 standard, applying utility conflict management practices to identify and resolve utility conflicts, and advocating the importance of preparing utility as-builts after relocation. Research is needed to investigate the differences between reconciling One-Call data results, SUE, and the information collected by state DOTs throughout the project delivery process as it relates to existing and relocated utility facilities. The objective of this research is to develop a compendium for resolving construction issues and inquiries, including: (1) strategies to reconcile variances between One-Call markings and subsurface utility investigation findings; (2) case studies involving One-Call data gathered prior to excavation and ground truth data gathered throughout the project delivery process; (3) an implementation plan, including strategies for effective communication and resolutions with pertinent stakeholders; and (4) a research report to compare with the FHWA-commissioned study titled, Cost Savings on Highway Projects Utilizing Subsurface Utility Engineering.

• Record URL:
  • http://apps.trb.org/cmsfeed/TRBNetProjectDisplay.asp?ProjectID=5846
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Contract to a Performing Organization has not yet been awarded.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Proposed
• Funding: $800,000.00
• Contract Numbers:

  Project 08-196

• 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: 20250526
• Expected Completion Date: 0
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Data collection; Project delivery; Public utilities; Road construction
• Identifier Terms: Subsurface Utility Engineering
• Subject Areas: Construction; Data and Information Technology; Geotechnology; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01956427
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Research Board
• Contract Numbers: Project 08-196
• Files: TRB, RIP
• Created Date: May 27 2025 8:55PM