There are significant flaws with the current 811 utility location system according to a new survey of construction firms that perform any kind of underground excavation released by the Associated General Contractors of America today. Most contractors say that calling 811 often leads to inaccurate line marking and that utility firms are often very slow in coming out to even do locate and mark their underground lines.
鈥淐onstruction firms are doing their part to avoid hitting utility lines, but the current 811 system appears to be badly flawed,鈥 said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association鈥檚 chief executive officer. 鈥淔ixing the 811 system will go a long way in protecting the safety of construction crews and the communities near these utility lines.鈥
Read more.