When Tualatin Valley Water District needed reliable on-call potholing services to verify underground utilities for their water system planning and maintenance, they turned to Angelo Underground. This year-long contract, running from October 2024 to October 2025, required a contractor capable of navigating complex utility fields while maintaining strict compliance with Washington County right-of-way requirements.
The Challenge – Multiple Utilities at Varying Depths
The scope of work presented unique challenges that demanded both technical expertise and careful coordination. TVWD required accurate verification of utility depth, orientation, and material composition to support their infrastructure planning efforts. The project area along SW Meadow Drive contained a complex network of underground utilities, including:
- 2″ steel gas lines at shallow depths
- 30″ and 42″ TVWD water mains
- 6″ water mains
- Sewer infrastructure
Each utility required different approaches for safe exposure and documentation. The varying depths, from surface-level gas lines to water mains reaching 6-8 feet deep, meant our team needed to adapt techniques for each pothole location. Adding to the complexity, the work zone featured compacted dirt and rock beneath 4 inches of asphalt, requiring specialized coring equipment and engineered ACP patching to meet county restoration standards.
Our Solution – Systematic Approach to Utility Verification
We developed a comprehensive approach that prioritized safety, accuracy, and minimal community disruption. Our process for each of the 13 pothole locations included:
Pre-Excavation Planning
- Securing ROW permits from Washington County
- Coordinating with D&H Flagging for certified traffic control
- Obtaining Traffic Signal Shutdown permit (TSS25165) for work at Walker Rd & SW Meadow Dr
Precision Excavation
- Using vacuum excavation trailer technology to eliminate the risk of utility strikes
- Coring through 4″ asphalt layers with specialized equipment
- Carefully exposing utilities at depths ranging from surface level to 8 feet
Documentation and Restoration
- Recording precise GPS locations for each utility
- Photographing exposed utilities for TVWD’s asset management database
- Backfilling with appropriate materials
- Installing engineered ACP patching per Washington County standards
- Ensuring all work passed the final county inspection
Navigating Regulatory Requirements
Working in public rights-of-way requires more than technical skill – it demands a thorough understanding of permitting processes and compliance requirements. Our team managed multiple regulatory layers throughout the contract:
Traffic Management Excellence: The active roadway location required sophisticated traffic control measures. We maintained lane closure restrictions between 9 AM and 3:30 PM, ensuring minimal impact on peak traffic hours. Our certified flaggers managed traffic flow while maintaining ADA-compliant pedestrian routes throughout the work zones.
Permit Compliance: Every aspect of the work aligned with Washington County’s strict ROW permit conditions. From initial permit applications through final inspections, we maintained complete documentation and followed all specified procedures. This attention to regulatory detail meant zero compliance issues throughout the contract period.
Safety First Approach
Operating around multiple utilities in active roadways demands unwavering commitment to safety. Our multi-layered safety approach protected both our team and the public:
- Certified flaggers stationed at all active work zones
- TCP (Traffic Control Plan) compliance for every excavation
- Vacuum excavation technology to prevent utility damage
- Proper containment of all excavation spoils
- Clear communication with utility locators before each dig
This comprehensive safety program resulted in zero incidents throughout the contract period, demonstrating that complex utility work can be performed safely even in challenging environments.
Results That Support Long-Term Planning
The successful completion of 13 pothole excavations provided TVWD with critical data for their infrastructure planning. Each location received:
- Detailed reports documenting utility depth and material composition
- GPS coordinates for precise mapping
- High-quality photographs for visual verification
- Restored pavement meeting Washington County standards
The accuracy of this utility verification work reduces the risk of future utility strikes and supports TVWD’s ongoing efforts to maintain reliable water service for the surrounding community. All restoration work passed Washington County’s final inspection, confirming that our work met the highest standards for public infrastructure projects.
Building Trust Through Consistent Performance
Throughout this on-call contract, our team demonstrated the reliability TVWD needed from their potholing contractor. Our ability to mobilize quickly for urgent verifications, combined with consistent quality and good service, resulted in project completion that met all contract requirements.
The project showcased our team’s ability to manage the complete spectrum of challenges inherent in utility potholing work – from technical excavation requirements to complex permitting processes and public safety considerations. By maintaining this balance, we delivered the accurate utility data TVWD needed while minimizing disruption to the Beaverton community.
This on-call contract represents more than just 13 successful pothole excavations. It demonstrates our capacity to serve as a trusted partner for municipal utilities, providing the precision, compliance, and safety that public infrastructure projects demand.
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