Integration of Utility Coordination and Highway Design

Utility relocations are frequently cited as one of the main causes of highway construction delays. A primary goal of State Transportation Agencies (STAs) is to deliver highway projects with the least disruption possible to the public. Research and practice suggest that effective utility coordination can improve the delivery of transportation projects. Thus, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) funded a project to investigate how to improve the integration between utility coordination and highway design by developing a new approach that will enhance the alignment between both processes. A fundamental step to develop this study was to achieve a comprehensive understanding of the written procedures of both processes and to analyze their current alignment. Understanding this alignment allowed the research team to develop a new approach for KYTC highway projects that involves the incorporation of effective utility coordination practices and strategies. This paper summarizes the process followed by the research team to interpret and analyze the highway design and utility coordination written procedures by developing visual representations of the information provided by KYTC guidance manuals.