avoid mistakes that can be made in the field and catch those before they become an issue in construction .”
Quality , value set Ayres SUE services apart Ayres SUE professionals place a priority on quality , Hayes said , adding that demand for their expertise is high because of the 2018 Colorado law . In 2022 alone , Ayres ’ Fort Collins team will have provided SUE services in multiple locales and for various projects throughout northern Colorado , including but not limited to storm drainage improvement , roadway improvements and redesign , traffic signal installation , and utility replacement projects . The Ayres SUE team , which is supported by an in-house survey group as well as aerial mapping and UAS teams to deliver projects , was even called in to support transportation impacts related to the recent wildfires and floods occurring in Colorado .
“ We ’ re local , and we care about northern Colorado ,” Hayes said . “ We take pride in the area we ’ re from , where our families live — the area we grew up in and call home . We take pride in protecting the underground infrastructure in this area .”
Mathison said the prioritization of client relationships also sets Ayres ’ SUE team apart .
“ We really strive to be personable and respectful , and work with our clients as partners ,” Mathison said . “ It goes along with one of our core company values . That piece is very important to us : the communication and the relationship building , which is , I think , unique in this line of work . Our goals are to provide a great work environment for our SUE staff , maintain client relationships , and provide clear , straightforward communication .”
Dan Tuttle of J-U-B Engineers , an Ayres SUE services client , said Ayres ’ highquality SUE work became apparent after challenges his company faced following the passage of the new Colorado law .
“ The struggle we had when the law first went into effect was that everybody was saying , ‘ Oh , we do SUE services ,’” said Tuttle , J-U-B Engineers transportation service group regional lead for Colorado . “ It was hard , at that point , to understand the new law ’ s value , because so many
Pre-excavation process and the Colorado SUE law : Before and after
BEFORE : Before the passage of Colorado ’ s 2018 SUE law , and as is still typical in other states , during a project ’ s design phase the lead engineer would call in an 811 engineering locate ticket , prompting all utility owners to send representatives to mark the locations of their facilities on the project site . A design engineer would then use those markings to refine project plans to hopefully avoid disturbing utilities .
The challenge with the pre-law approach was the unreliability of the quality of data behind the utility companies ’ 811 markings due to variables such as inconsistencies in recordkeeping among companies . That unreliable data could lead to construction conflicts with proposed infrastructure improvements — along with project delays and compromised safety .
AFTER : Under the new Colorado law , during the preexcavation phase the SUE provider on a project calls in an 811 SUE ticket . That ticket alerts each utility owner to either mark the locations of their facilities on the project site or to provide the SUE provider with data , maps , and drawings regarding those locations .
The SUE provider then uses the information and markings from utility owners as a starting point and conducts its own utility investigation of all utilities in the project area . This approach reduces the potential of inaccurate marking or conflicting utility surface markings between utilities . The investigation includes surveys , electromagnetic locating , ground-penetrating radar scans , and test holes to determine the most accurate utility locations possible .
– Juliana Poquette www . AyresAssociates . com 9