According to the latest DIRT (Damage Information Reporting Tool) report from the Common Ground Alliance (CGA), excavators face 50-50 odds of being able to legally start their work on time due to late utility locates. These delays don't just push back project timelines. They create a domino effect of cost overruns, safety risk, and strained relationships across utilities, contractors, and municipalities.

This problem is especially acute in southern states like Georgia, Florida, and Texas, where year-round construction activity keeps locate demand high even during winter months. As population growth drives new infrastructure projects and milder climates enable continuous excavation, addressing locate response inefficiencies has become urgent.

What Does DIRT Data Reveal About Locate Delays in Southern States?

The CGA's DIRT report provides a detailed picture of the locate challenges hitting southern states hardest. A recurring finding: a significant percentage of excavation projects are delayed due to late or incomplete utility locates. In 2023, more than 25% of damages nationwide stemmed from failures in the notification process, including untimely responses to 811 locate requests.

Why are southern states disproportionately affected by locate delays? Three factors compound the problem:

Year-round excavation activity. Mild winters mean construction and excavation never pause, creating perpetual high demand for locates with no off-season for systems and crews to recover.

Rapid population growth. Texas and Florida lead the nation in population growth, driving infrastructure expansion that generates more 811 tickets than many locate operations are staffed to handle.

Telecommunications infrastructure buildout. The expansion of 5G networks and fiber installations has added a new layer of locate volume on top of traditional utility work, further straining one-call systems and field crews.

These conditions create an environment where on-time locates are the exception, putting utilities, construction firms, and telecom providers at risk of cascading project delays.

What Do Late Utility Locates Actually Cost?

The cost of untimely locates goes far beyond inconvenience. Late responses ripple through entire project lifecycles, hitting budgets, safety records, and compliance standing.

Project cost escalation. Delays extend timelines and drive up labor and equipment expenses. A mid-size utility project delayed by one week can incur additional costs exceeding $50,000.

Regulatory and legal exposure. Excavators operating without valid locate responses risk fines, penalties, and potential lawsuits if a utility strike occurs.

Safety risk to workers and communities. Damages to underground utilities, particularly gas lines and electric cables, create hazards that put field crews and nearby residents in danger.

How costly can a single locate failure be? A Georgia construction project where delayed locates led to the accidental rupture of a water main illustrates the real-world impact: work halted for five days, and service was disrupted to over 10,000 residents. Incidents like that one make the case for faster, more reliable locate response on their own.

3 Challenges That Make Southern States Vulnerable to Locate Inefficiencies

What makes the South particularly exposed? A combination of climate, growth rate, and system readiness:

No seasonal slowdown. Northern states get a natural reset during winter. Southern states don't. Locate request volume stays high twelve months a year, and systems built for seasonal peaks can't sustain that pace.

Infrastructure expanding faster than locate capacity. Cities like Austin, Atlanta, and Miami are growing at a rate that outpaces the locate resources available to support new construction. More projects, more tickets, same crews.

Winter peak season strain. During southern states' busiest construction months, a surge in 811 requests can overwhelm utilities and one-call centers that aren't staffed or equipped for the volume.

Without proactive investment in tools, staffing, and coordination, these states cycle through the same delays and escalating costs every season.

How Technology Reduces Locate Delays and Prevents Damages

What technology helps utilities and locators reduce locate response delays? Ticket management and locate coordination platforms give utilities, excavators, and municipalities the infrastructure to process high volumes without the breakdowns that cause late responses.

KorTerra's damage prevention platform addresses the core problems behind locate delays:

Risk-based ticket prioritization. Scoring models identify high-risk tickets and surface them for faster response, reducing the likelihood of damages on the jobs that matter most.

Centralized communication tools. Coordination between utilities, locators, and excavators happens in one system instead of through phone calls, emails, and manual handoffs that introduce delays.

Real-time data and reporting. Analytics on ticket volume, response times, and locate completion rates give managers the visibility to allocate resources proactively instead of reacting after backlogs build.

These capabilities turn locate management from a reactive scramble into a system that keeps pace with demand.

Actionable Steps for Utilities and Locators Facing Winter Construction Demand

Southern utilities, excavators, and municipalities can take concrete steps to reduce locate delays and maintain on-time performance:

Deploy ticket management technology. A platform like KorTerra gives your operation the structure to handle high volumes without dropping tickets or missing response windows.

Train crews before peak demand hits. Staff equipped with current procedures and safety protocols process locate requests faster and more accurately. Training during the rush pulls people off tickets. Training before it starts puts them in the field ready.

Coordinate with one-call centers. Work directly with your state's 811 center to identify bottlenecks, align on response expectations, and resolve issues before they cascade into project delays.

Use historical data to forecast demand. Review past seasons' ticket volumes and damage patterns to staff and plan for what's actually coming, not what you hope for.

These measures turn DIRT data findings into operational changes that show up in fewer damages and faster response times.

Turn DIRT Data Into Fewer Damages This Season

The challenges behind locate inefficiencies are well documented. So are the solutions. Southern states face unique year-round demand, but with the right tools, training, and coordination, on-time locates can become the standard instead of the exception.

KorTerra's locate management platform is built to help utilities and contract locators process tickets faster, respond within SLA windows, and reduce the damages that come from late or missed locates. If locate delays are costing your operation time, money, and credibility, schedule a demo with KorTerra and see how the platform handles the volume your region demands.

About KorTerra, Inc.

KorTerra is the leading provider of damage prevention software, protecting billions of dollars in underground infrastructure. For over 30 years, the leading stakeholders in gas distribution, pipeline operation, telecommunications, electric distribution, contract locating, and city, county, and state governments have trusted KorTerra as their damage prevention solution. KorTerra helps mitigate risk and ensure the safety of field personnel by providing secure software platforms for processing 811 locate tickets, tracking and reporting asset damages, meeting regulatory compliance, and more. Explore additional solutions at korterra.com and follow KorTerra on LinkedIn.

Media Contact:
Paige Nygaard – KorTerra, Inc.
952.368.1911
marketing@korterra.com