Utilities Unit

Our Mission:
Safely and efficiently manage and facilitate the relocation
and accommodation of utilities along NCDOT highways.

State Utilities Manager:
Dewayne Sykes, PE

NCDOT Utilities Unit

It is the responsibility of the Utilities Unit to facilitate and manage the relocation, adjustment, removal, and addition of utilities along NCDOT highways and rights of way while maintaining the integrity of the highway system and ensuring the safety of its users. The NCDOT Utilities Unit is comprised of three sections; Utilities Coordination, Utilities Engineering, and Utilities Encroachments Engineering.

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Utilities Coordination Section

State Utility Agent:
J. Robert Memory

The Utilities Coordination Section through coordination with the utility owner regulates the removal, relocation or adjustment of utility facilities occupying highway rights of way when construction of highway improvements by NCDOT makes such removal, relocations or adjustments necessary. This Section works to ensure that utilities are removed, relocated or adjusted by the utility owner in a timely and efficient manner to the benefit of both NCDOT and the owner. It establishes close-working relationships with utility company representatives through continual meetings and correspondence to keep them abreast of highway projects, project schedules, policy changes and other highway utility related issues. This Section also handles all contractual agreements and payment transactions between NCDOT and the utility companies and governmental agencies for relocating utilities. This Section insures that agreements and bonds are secured with the utility companies and governmental agencies operating in North Carolina concerning proposed highway construction, encroachments, drainage, and utility conflicts.

Utilities Engineering Section

Utilities Section Engineer:
Roger Worthington, PE

The Utilities Engineering Section is the technical engineering side of the Utilities Unit. This section analyzes utility facilities for construction conflicts and safety issues with Centrally Let TIP highway projects. It engineers solutions, obtains permits, and provides contract documents relative to these highway projects. This section's products are Utility Environmental Permit Drawings, Utilities by Others plans, Utility Agreement Plans, and Utility Construction plans. This section also provides technical expertise concerning public utilities to NCDOT.

Utilities Encroachments Engineering Section

The Utilities Encroachments Engineering Section reviews, provides guidance, processes, and provides recommendations regarding encroachment requests of both utility (water, sewer, gas, power lines, communication lines, etc.) and non-utility (bridge, culvert, drainage structure, fencing, groundwater monitoring well, sidewalk etc.) encroachments within NCDOT right of way. Every effort is made to reasonably accommodate these encroachment requests to be within NCDOT's right of way without diminishing the primary functionality and integrity of North Carolina's highways. The applicable rules, policies, and engineering practices are adhered to while serving internal (Division, District Engineer's Office, Utilities Coordination Section, etc.) and external (Cities, Townships, Municipalities, utility owners, etc.) customers, including the citizens of North Carolina.