Protecting Connecticut’s Underground Infrastructure Through Education and Collaboration

Connecticut’s infrastructure is the foundation of our communities, from the underground utility networks that deliver electricity, natural gas, water, telecommunications and internet to the public facilities and emergency services we rely on every day. As our state continues to invest in maintaining and expanding this infrastructure, protecting existing underground utility facilities is more important than ever.

Every excavation project, whether it’s a major roadway improvement, a commercial development or a homeowner planting a tree, has the potential to impact underground utility facilities. Because of this, damage prevention remains a shared responsibility among excavators, utility owners, municipalities, contractors, engineers and property owners.

At Call Before You Dig (CBYD), our mission is simple: to provide communication and education to improve safety when excavating. Connecting excavators with utility owners before excavation begins helps prevent damage to underground facilities and keeps those conducting excavation activities and the public safe. While the free 811 service is an essential part of the damage prevention process, education is equally important.

To further support excavators and damage prevention in the State of Connecticut, CBYD recently relocated to a new office in Cheshire, Connecticut, where we’ve expanded our capabilities with the opening of our new Training and Resource Center. This dedicated space provides in-person learning opportunities, encourages collaboration among industry partners and serves as a hub for sharing best practices in excavation safety and utility damage prevention.

The Training and Resource Center allows us to host a variety of educational programs designed to meet the needs of professionals across the damage prevention industry. Whether someone is new to excavation or has decades of experience, ongoing education helps reinforce safe practices, introduce new technologies, and ensure everyone understands their role in protecting underground infrastructure.

CBYD offers in-person training on the first Wednesday of each month. This in-person training is a great opportunity for excavators, utility operators, municipalities, contractors, engineers, landscapers and anyone involved in planning or performing excavation. Our in-person training sessions cover the 811 process, proper ways to submit 811 requests, State of Connecticut Call Before You Dig regulations, the requirements and responsibilities of utilities and excavators, and best practices for excavating near underground utility facilities.

Education is particularly valuable because preventing utility damage involves much more than simply placing an 811 request. Safe excavation requires accurate project planning, maintaining positive communication between all stakeholders, respecting utility markings, using appropriate excavation techniques around marked facilities and recognizing when additional coordination may be necessary. Every project presents unique challenges, and having knowledgeable, well-trained personnel helps reduce risks before work begins and especially as excavation work progresses.

The consequences of damaging underground utilities can be significant. Beyond repair costs, utility strikes can interrupt essential services, damage public and private property, delay construction schedules and, most importantly, put workers and the public at risk of serious injury. A single damaged utility can affect entire neighborhoods, businesses, schools, or healthcare facilities, making damage prevention a critical component of infrastructure protection.

As Connecticut continues to modernize its infrastructure, collaboration and communication between stakeholders will remain our greatest tool. Utility owners, excavators, municipalities, designers, regulators and industry organizations all play important roles in creating a culture of safety. By working together and investing in education, we strengthen the damage prevention process and help ensure infrastructure improvements can move forward safely and efficiently.

CBYD is proud to support these efforts by providing not only reliable one-call notification services, but also educational resources that empower stakeholders to make informed decisions in the field. Our new Training and Resource Center represents an investment in Connecticut’s future and reflects our commitment to continuous learning, industry partnership, and protecting the underground infrastructure that serves every resident and business across the state.

Protecting infrastructure begins long before excavation equipment arrives on a jobsite and continues throughout the excavation process. With planning, communication, education, and a commitment to following safe excavation practices, we can help ensure Connecticut’s underground utilities remain protected, construction projects stay on track, and our construction workers and the public stay safe and continue to benefit from the reliable infrastructure that supports everyday life.

Visit CBYD.com for more information and training resources.

Read the full article in the Fall 2026 edition of CONNstruction magazine.