In the realm of utility locating and excavation, accuracy is paramount. One of the most critical steps in this process is verifying the location of underground utilities before construction or excavation activities commence. Traditional excavation methods often pose risks of damage to existing infrastructure, leading to costly and potentially hazardous incidents. However, vacuum excavation for verification offers a non-destructive and …
Last week, I had the opportunity to attend the CGA Summer Committee Summit, which brought together over 180 damage prevention professionals to tackle the top three excavation root causes. These root causes accounted for 28% of damages to buried utilities in 2023.Key action items and discussions from the Summit included updates to six Best Practices in Chapter 3, which were …
It’s the end of July already and we feel like we’re only getting started with the dig season! This weeks Utility Alert has everything from new equipment launches to gas damages to congress pressuring the DOT. Intriguingly though there are two stories on overtime… locators work long hours and deserve to get paid fairly – but what classifies as fair? …
In a recent news clip from Pflugerville, a gas leak prompted evacuations in the area. The leak was reported on Kenemer Street near Kelly Lane, affecting residents from Mallard Pond Trail to Hanging Rock Drive. Atmos Energy was on-site to repair the issue, though details about the cause and the completion of repairs remain unclear. Despite initial road closures and …
A few days ago, while driving on the highway, I almost witnessed a serious crash. The car in front of me didn’t see another vehicle merging until the last minute. In a frantic attempt to avoid a collision, the driver swerved, lost control, and nearly hit the central barrier before managing to regain control. Fortunately, no one was hurt, and …
We’re in Nashville this week for the Common Ground Alliance Summer Committee meetings. It should be a good week connecting with other stakeholders. Here’s the latest damage prevention news: Sound Construction Inc. Faces $394,083 in Fines for Fatal Trench Collapse: READ The Economics of SUE: READ County Commissioners to survey right-of-way, ask farmer to move fence back: READ GOPHURRS $34M …
In the rural California community of Cool, residents like Stephanie Bus are frustrated with PG&E due to repeated power shutoffs, intended to prevent wildfires. Despite PG&E’s promise to bury power lines to improve safety, much of the work remains incomplete, with new poles and overhead lines still in place. Stephanie has experienced multiple power outages since May and feels the …
I intially missed this news (though it was probably covered by Utility Alert at the time) but back in January the Department of Energy (DOE) announced $34 million in funding for various projects aimed at reducing the costs and increasing the efficiency and safety of moving power lines underground. This funding is part of the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy’s (ARPA-E) …
Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) is often hailed as a game-changer in the realm of infrastructure projects, and for good reason. The minimal upfront investment in SUE sets the stage for substantial economic returns over the lifespan of the project. The precise mapping and identification of underground utilities facilitated by SUE not only averts unforeseen interruptions that can throw timelines off …
Welcome to this week’s edition of Utility Alert, packed with the latest developments and insights in the world of underground infrastructure and damage prevention! Wellington launches platform to map underground infrastructure: READ Buffeting – Why damage prevention leaders should publish their own reports: READ Duquesne Light Company Crowdsources Underground Monitoring: READ Learn about FuzionView: WATCH Maui faces uncertainty over the …