Utility Accommodation and Coordination Flashcards

FDOT may reimburse a utility owner for relocation costs when the utility was installed:

Answer: With legal authority prior to highway construction, establishing prior rights

Reimbursement is tied to prior rights — if the utility owner had legal authority (easement, prescriptive right, etc.) to occupy the location before the state acquired the right-of-way, FDOT is responsible for relocation costs.

Which type of utility crossing method is preferred by FDOT to minimize disruption to traffic and existing pavement?

Answer: Horizontal directional drilling or bore-and-jack

Horizontal directional drilling (HDD) and bore-and-jack methods install utilities beneath the roadway without cutting or disturbing the pavement surface, preserving road integrity and minimizing traffic disruption.

A 'conflict matrix' in utility coordination is a tool used to:

Answer: Identify and track locations where utilities conflict with proposed construction

A conflict matrix is a systematic tracking tool that identifies where underground or aerial utilities conflict with proposed construction elements, helping coordinators manage resolutions and relocation schedules.

Under FDOT policy, a utility owner who does NOT have prior rights and must relocate its facilities for a highway project is generally responsible for:

Answer: All of the relocation costs

Without prior rights, a utility owner is a permittee whose use of the right-of-way is conditioned on the needs of highway construction; therefore, the utility owner bears the full cost of relocation.

What is the primary purpose of Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) during FDOT project development?

Answer: To reduce risks and costs associated with unknown underground utility locations

SUE is an engineering practice used during design to accurately locate and characterize existing underground utilities, reducing costly conflicts, delays, and safety risks during construction.

According to FDOT's Utility Accommodation Manual, unprotected utility poles located within the roadside clear zone present what type of concern?

Answer: Roadside safety hazard to errant vehicles

Rigid utility poles in the clear zone are fixed roadside objects that can be struck by errant vehicles, increasing the risk of serious injury or fatality; FDOT requires poles to be placed or guarded to minimize this hazard.

A utility owner fails to complete relocation by the agreed date in the Utility Work Schedule, causing construction delays. What action may FDOT take?

Answer: Arrange for relocation by the contractor and back-charge costs to the utility owner

When a utility owner causes project delays by missing UWS milestones, FDOT may have the work performed by the prime contractor and seek recovery of those costs from the utility owner.