Subsurface Utility Engineering Makes Inroads in Canada

02/27/2006

Subsurface utility engineering (SUE) is still a fairly new concept in Canada. Utilization of the technology calls for continuing education. The TSH/TBE Joint Venture presented on SUE to representatives from the Ontario Ministry of Transportation’s (MTO’s) Southwest Region. The representatives were asked to think about potential SUE pilot projects where they could evaluate the process.

MTO responded with the Highway 401/Homer Watson Blvd. interchange improvement project in Kitchener. As a subconsultant to Delcan, a Canadian engineering firm, TSH/TBE performed records research, designating and locating services. MTO then included SUE as part of the detailed design bid of another interchange project – Highway 401/Wellington Road in London. TSH/TBE was on three of the five teams submitting proposals, including Delcan, the firm that was awarded the project.

The 401/Homer Watson project was used in the recently published University of Toronto study looking into the cost benefits of using SUE. The University found that on this particular project, using SUE saved $2.48 for every dollar spent on the process. A major finding that resulted in cost savings was the presence of fiber optic conduits located in the proposed alignment of the new interchange bridge.