Case Study: Owner Delays Utility Relocation Causing Highway Project Setbacks in Colorado (2018)

Project Overview
• Name: I-25 North Widening Project
• Location: Denver, Colorado
• Year: 2018
• Project Size: $420 million
• Scope: Widening of congested highway corridor, with major utility relocation
• Lead Agencies/Contractors: Colorado DOT (Owner) /

Category of the Issue, Problem, or Challenge
• Contract Owner
• Utility Coordination & Planning

Summary of the Issue, Problem, or Challenge
The Colorado DOT failed to coordinate and finalize utility relocation agreements in time, resulting in site access delays and halting of critical path activities.

Root Cause Analysis

• Owner delay in finalizing easements and agreements with private utilities.
• Lack of proactive utility coordination prior to NTP.
• Inadequate owner-side staffing for right-of-way clearance.

Impacts Due to the Issue, Problem, or Challenge

• Work stoppage for over two months on key sections.
• Contractor claims for delay damages totaling $12 million.
• Compressed schedule for remaining work phases, increasing risk and cost.

Corrective Actions Taken

1. Colorado DOT created a dedicated utility coordination task force.
2. Utility coordination embedded into preconstruction planning.
3. Owner invested in right-of-way acquisition systems and legal review teams.

Lessons Learned

• Utility relocation must be resolved early to avoid major delays.
• Owner-side readiness is crucial before issuing NTP.
• Utility issues must be proactively managed—not reactively addressed.

Audit & Prevention: Project Control Questions to Ask on Future Projects to Help Control the Situation

• Are all utilities identified and cleared before construction starts?
• Is there a utility relocation plan with timelines and owners?
• Does the contract define responsibilities for utility coordination?