Institute for Transportation

About the research

State transportation agencies (STAs) strive to deliver highway projects on time and on budget. Utility relocations are frequently cited as a primary reason for delays. This report describes a new approach for enhancing the alignment of utility coordination and design. Researchers crafted this new approach based on the findings of a literature review, an evaluation of how utility coordination milestones and project development milestones are currently aligned at the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC), and the experiences of other STAs. KYTC should use this guidance to facilitate implementation of the new approach and an associated Utility Coordination Training and Certification Program. All personnel engaged in project design and delivery can benefit from the proposed guidance (e.g., district utility coordinators, consultant utility coordinators, project designers, project managers, surveyors, right-of-way staff, construction staff, central office utility coordinators, etc.). This guidance document also includes suggestions for identifying, managing, and mitigating, utility-related risks using Utility Conflict Management (UCM), provides information on the use of Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE), and offers recommendations for managing consultant-led utility coordination.