The Common Ground Alliance (CGA), an organization focused on protecting underground utility lines and the safety of people who dig near them, recently announced findings from its fourth annual Damage Information Reporting Tool (DIRT) Report, which calculated approximately 256,000 underground utility damages for 2007, which is significantly lower than estimates in previous years.

Based on this new figure, there were roughly 700 incidents per day nationwide in 2007, compared to more than 1,200 per day during the first three years of the report, representing a 40 percent decline in underground utility damages that have the potential to cause injury or loss of life. Several factors that likely led to the 2007 reduction in damages include stakeholder support and promotion of 811 – the national call-before-you-dig number that launched in May 2007, of which AGC was the first national launch partner – Regional CGA efforts, implementation of CGA Best Practices and the use of new and proven technologies by excavators and locators. Click here to view the complete 2007 DIRT Report.

CGA will host a teleconference on January 7, 2009 providing highlights of the 2007 DIRT report. Registration is free and this is a great opportunity to learn about what the CGA is doing to promote awareness about damage prevention.

For more information and to register for the January 7 teleconference please click here.

To learn more about AGC’s involvement in CGA and how you can be a part of the damage prevention solution contact Perry Fowler at (703) 837-1983 or fowlerp@agc.org

The national dialogue about infrastructure investment is gaining momentum and one of the challenges our industry faces is educating the public about substantial national and local investment needs.Investment in infrastructure is increasingly viewed as a means of quickly stimulating the economy, and providing good jobs by rehabilitating and replacing aging infrastructure. AGC of America has been a leader in our Advocacy for the inclusion of major funding for all types of infrastructure in the much discussed 2009 stimulus package.

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The nation is focused on getting the economy back on track and an important component of the economic stimulus package is substantial investment in our national water infrastructure. When Congress returns in January one the top issues they will tackle is a stimulus package with a substantial infrastructure component. AGC has been working to educate Congress and the incoming Administration with the help of our industry allies such as APWA, AWWA , NACWA and the WIN Coalition. AGC is working with our partners to obtain and share data on water and wastewater projects that are ready to go which will provide much needed jobs in this time of financial uncertainty.

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AGC of America is excited to announce this year's Highway & Utilities Contractors Issues Meeting, to be held from February 5th-7th, 2009 at the La Quinta Resort and Club in Palm Springs, California. This meeting is the premier gathering for contractors and related businesses involved in every aspect of highway and utility construction to hear about and discuss issues and trends in these markets, so mark your calendars now!

Some of the Issues on the Agenda:

• Construction Industry Ethics and Compliance Program: Why You Need One, How to Implement
• Florida's Success with Disputes Resolution Boards for All Sized projects
• Preparing Your Company for a Minneapolis Bridge Disaster
• Outlook on the New Congress and Administration
• SAFETEA-LU Reauthorization and Wastewater Trust Fund
• Impact of Tight Credit Market on Public Works Funding

For more information and to register, visit the AGC website.