Case study and statistical analysis of utility conflicts on construction roadway projects and best practices in their avoidance

Utility conflicts are unfortunately a common occurrence on many construction roadway projects. Through a combination of case studies and statistical analyses of variance, this paper examines the cost, frequency, and severity of utility conflicts by both type and location (urban versus rural roadway projects). Understanding the true costs of utility conflicts sheds light on the significant magnitude of added construction costs that utility conflicts impose on state transportation agencies, utility companies, contractors, and the public during roadway construction. Understanding when and what type of utility conflicts most likely occur will help state transportation agencies better understand the risk of utility conflicts on future projects. The analyses presented in this paper are a result of a survey completed by state utility directors from 45 different United States state transportation agencies as well as four in-depth case studies of Kentucky roadway projects that experienced utility conflicts during construction. In addition to examining the frequency and severity of different utility conflicts, the paper also examines practices being utilized by different state transportation agencies and their impact on the frequency and severity of the conflicts.