Post-review, approved designs go to the permitting and 811 ticketing stages. Only licensed contractors can get permits/tickets, which include design documentation. Consistent enforcement of the city and state’s damage prevention laws further promotes compliance.
Chicago’s success highlights several adoptable practices:
- Sharing facility maps for planning purposes provides the data necessary to prevent damages without revealing sensitive details.
- Open communication on designs gives owners a voice and excavators foresight on potential conflicts.
- Collaboration from the start fosters stakeholder relationships and buy-in.
- Empowered excavators have the resources they need to identify buried infrastructure.
Chicago demonstrates that the damage prevention process works best when all parties commit to transparent planning, cooperation and accountability from project outset through excavation.