Page 15 - BCCGA Best Practices Version 3.0

14 British Columbia Common Ground Alliance
The development of consistent provincial standards for the planning, design,
and construction of common utility corridors also merits consideration. These
standards should incorporate minimum guidelines for sizes/spacing between
utilities in corridors, protection of property bars, and the consistent standard
placement of utilities within the Right of Way.
CURRENT PRACTICE:
Ÿ Joint Trenching is an encouraged practice that involves the use of a
common trench for all of the utilities in a corridor.
Ÿ Utilidors is a concept that is becoming more prominent in many
jurisdictions throughout North America. It involves the creation of a
common utility corridor for the future installation of utilities in a
geographic area.
Ÿ Running Line Locations are consistent standard offsets from the property
line and/or street line for placement of utilities.
BENEFITS: The use of common utility corridors has some of the following
benefits:
Ÿ Accurate information regarding the location of underground utilities in a
particular geographical area
Ÿ Safe, efficient, and effective installation, placement, operation, and
maintenance of underground utilities
Ÿ Effective and efficient utilization of land
Ÿ Easier identification and location of underground utilities in future
development projects, and
Ÿ Damage prevention to underground utilities
1-2 THE PROTECTION OF SURVEY INFRASTRUCTURE
PRACTICE STATEMENT: When designing the location for placement of a new
utility plant, planners and designers should plan it accordingly in order to
protect the survey infrastructure so that the public interest may be served and
protected.
PRACTICE DESCRIPTION: Service laterals must be designed and installed to
avoid disturbing property corners.