The recently released NCHRP Research Report 1185 Out-of-Service Utility Facilities: Management Throughout the Highway Life Cycle provides guidance on practices for locating, identifying, tracking, and managing Abandoned or out-of-service (OOS) utility facilities throughout the highway life cycle.

Utilities are essential services that often occupy the public right-of-way along roads. While utility access benefits both service providers and the public, utility facilities can complicate highway construction, especially roadway expansion projects. Transportation agencies identify utilities requiring relocation through coordination with utility owners during project planning and design. However, no process or technology can guarantee the detection of all buried utilities.

Abandoned or OOS utilities are particularly difficult to identify because ownership records may be missing, inaccurate, or unavailable. When previously unknown utilities are discovered during construction, they can cause significant project delays, increased costs, and contractor claims.

The guide is designed to help transportation officials understand the risks associated with OOS utility facilities and implement strategies to reduce project delays, costs, and construction impacts. It also supports contractors, consultants, utility owners, and other stakeholders by increasing awareness of OOS utility issues and promoting practices that improve coordination, decision-making, and project outcomes.

Supplemental to this report is the NCHRP Web-Only Document 454 Developing a Guide to Manage Out-of-Service Utility Facilities, which describes the research conducted to develop holistic guidance to locate, track, and manage OOS facilities throughout the life cycle of highway facilities.

Read the Report