33 - Utilities
Underground utilities bid estimating, without the grind.
The wet-utility number is set less by the pipe size than by the depth bracket, the dewatering, and the tie-in coordination — the things that drive trench, shoring, and schedule. Drop in your package and get back a cited first-pass: pipe by LF bracketed by depth, structures by EA, groundwater/dewatering and rock flags, and the RFIs that keep a utilities bid from losing in the trench.
✓ PE-reviewable✓ Cited to source✓ Your underground utilities workflow
✓
REVIEWED
REVIEWED
Mobilization + traffic control + erosion controlmeasure LF (by size + material + depth)— cite
Trench excavation + dewatering + shoring (OSHA Subpart P)measure LF or CY— cite
Storm sewer — pipe + structures (inlets, MH, outfall)measure LF (by size + material + depth)— cite
Sanitary sewer — pipe + manholes + servicesmeasure LF (by size + material + depth)— cite
Water main — pipe, valves, fittings, hydrants, servicesmeasure LF (by size + material + depth)— cite
6
governing codes
10
line-item groups
6
units of measure
6
risk flags
What it surfaces for underground utilities
Priced for the way underground utilities is actually bid.
The engine reads your package and flags exactly what bites underground utilities estimators — before it costs you.
Governing codes named: State DOT + local utility specs (THE controlling reference — bedding, backfill, testing, materials), ASTM D2321 (underground thermoplastic pipe), AWWA C-series (water main C600/C651 disinfection), ASTM C1479/C76 (RCP storm pipe), OSHA 1926 Subpart P (trench safety: sloping/benching/shoring/competent person), local health dept/DEQ (sanitary + water separation, permits).
Line-item groups your bid breaks into: mobilization + traffic control + erosion control; trench excavation + dewatering + shoring (OSHA Subpart P); storm sewer pipe + structures (inlets, MH, outfall); sanitary sewer pipe + manholes + services; water main pipe/valves/fittings/hydrants/services; bedding + backfill + compaction; rock excavation; pipe testing (pressure/leakage water, air/mandrel gravity, disinfection AWWA C651); utility connections + tie-ins; surface restoration.
The utilities risks ranked: depth + dewatering + shoring (deep runs below the water table drive the biggest cost + schedule); rock + unsuitable soils (the classic differing-site-conditions dispute); live tie-in coordination (shutdowns + bypass pumping on existing utilities carry cost/risk/schedule); utility conflicts/potholing (undisclosed existing utilities cause redesign + delay); testing/disinfection failures; surface-restoration scope.
The RFIs drafted (verbatim): "Which agency/DOT/utility spec governs (pipe materials, bedding, backfill, testing), and are there local separation/cover requirements?" "Groundwater + dewatering: what's the water table at the deepest runs, and is dewatering (+ discharge permit) in our scope?" "Tie-ins to existing live utilities: shutdown windows, bypass pumping, and who coordinates with the utility owner?"
The trade's anatomy
Everything underground utilities needs, structured.
Line-item groups
Mobilization + traffic control + erosion controlTrench excavation + dewatering + shoring (OSHA Subpart P)Storm sewer — pipe + structures (inlets, MH, outfall)Sanitary sewer — pipe + manholes + servicesWater main — pipe, valves, fittings, hydrants, servicesBedding + backfill (per spec) + compactionRock excavation (if encountered)Pipe testing — pressure/leakage (water), air/mandrel (gravity), disinfection (AWWA C651)Utility connections + tie-ins to existing (shutdown coordination)Surface restoration (pavement/landscape patch)
Governing codes
State DOT + local utility specs · THE controlling reference — bedding, backfill, testing, materialsASTM D2321 · underground installation of thermoplastic (PVC/HDPE) pipeAWWA C-series · water main pipe, fittings, disinfection (C600/C651)ASTM C1479 / C76 · RCP storm pipe installation + materialOSHA 1926 Subpart P · trench safety (sloping/benching/shoring/competent person)Local health dept / DEQ · sanitary sewer + water separation + permits
Units of measure
pipe (storm / sanitary / water) → LF (by size + material + depth)structures (manholes, catch basins, inlets) → EA (by depth/type)bedding / backfill / imported material → TON or CYtrench excavation / rock → LF or CYvalves, hydrants, services, connections → EAdewatering / bypass pumping → LS / day
The risks that usually bite
Depth + dewatering + shoringRock + unsuitable soilsLive tie-in coordinationUtility conflicts / potholingTesting / disinfection failuresSurface restoration scope
“"Utilities is a pipe-LF bid; I price the LF and the MH count."”
The LF is the floor — the swing is the trench. The analysis brackets pipe cost BY DEPTH (because depth drives trench, shoring, and dewatering more than pipe size), surfaces the groundwater/dewatering and rock triggers, and flags the live tie-in coordination that carries shutdown cost and schedule dependency. A utilities bid that prices the trench is a bid that survives the deep runs. Cited hands clean to the heavy-civil PE.
Run this on your own utilities package.
30 minutes. Bring a real set — a deep storm run below the water table, a live tie-in, or a job thin on existing-utility data — and watch the cited line items, the depth/dewatering flags, and the tie-in RFIs on your actual drawings.