The 2023 811 5K Run/Walk turned out to be a great success bringing Minnesotans together to raise awareness for safe digging. Held August 12, 2023, at Bde Maka Ska’s Thomas Beach in Minneapolis, this year’s event featured participants from the Twin Cities and the surrounding suburbs, a damage prevention-focused vendor fair, and the annual Kid’s Race.
Click or call before you dig in your yard; it’s easy and it’s the law.
(St. Paul, Minn., June 26, 2023) Hidden dangers may lurk below the surface of your very own yard. Striking an underground electrical wire or gas line when digging for your summer home improvement project could be both dangerous and expensive, but there’s a sure-fire way to stay safe.
Clicking on the Gopher State One Call website or calling 8-1-1 results in a fast, free service to mark underground utilities, allowing you to pursue your home projects with confidence.
“It’s free, it’s easy, and it’s the law,” says Barb Cederberg, Chief Operations Officer of Gopher State One Call, the Minnesota non-profit organization that notifies utility companies of your intent to dig so that they can provide utility markings for commercial and residential digging or excavation projects.
According to Cederberg, homeowners who don’t Click or Call may strike underground water, electrical or gas lines. She said accidents often occur for common digging projects, including planting trees, fencing, patio construction or other home improvement projects. Gas lines or other utilities can be surprisingly close to the surface. She suggests a quick and easy method to avoid problems:
Cederberg emphasized that beyond the safety aspects of calling ahead for utility markings, it is Minnesota State law to do so.
“It’s incredibly easy, plus it’s free. Just a little planning will assure your safety while giving you confidence before wielding your shovel or post hole digger for your summer project.” Cederberg said.
About Gopher State One Call
Gopher State One Call was established by state law in 1987, following a horrendous pipeline accident explosion in Mounds View, MN. It is governed by a volunteer board of about 20 directors representing utilities, excavators and other safety-minded individuals. More information on scheduling marking before your dig is available at www.gopherstateonecall.org.
In planning large-scale projects, it can often be helpful to meet in person with facility operators to discuss project design before construction begins. These meetings help align the planning team, contractors, and facility operators on underground utility coordination. Filing an Engineering/Pre-Con Meet Ticket through Gopher State One Call (GSOC) allows you to do just that.
Engineering/Pre-Con Meet Tickets are a type of Non-Excavation Ticket used to set up a pre-con meeting with facility operators during all design and pre-construction phases of a project when there is no imminent intent to dig. These meetings are used to discuss factors such as scheduling, project design, and utility relocation.
Think an Engineering/Pre-Con Meet Ticket might be right for your upcoming project? We’re answering five common questions about this type of Non-Excavation Ticket below.
Each spring, Minnesota holds damage prevention meetings by and for the excavation community all around the state. These meetings are focused on safe digging and best practice education. Registration is now open — see the instructions below to on how to sign up.
How to register:
1. Visit the MNCGA website events calendar to find a meeting location and date that works for you. Make sure to check both the March and April 2023 calendars.
2. Click on the event you’d like to attend. In the event description, you’ll find the time, venue, address, and contact information for the meeting. You’ll also find the Eventbrite link to register.
3. Click the Eventbrite link under “Website” to be taken to the Eventbrite page for that meeting. Then, complete your registration via Eventbrite. You will receive email confirmation of your registration.
Damage prevention meetings typically include presentations from Gopher State One Call and the Minnesota Office of Pipeline Safety, as well as guest speakers from other Minnesota damage prevention stakeholders.
We look forward to seeing you all this spring!
The 2023 Minnesota Common Ground Alliance (MNCGA) Locate Rodeo is coming up! Join us at CenterPoint Energy’s River Building January 17 and 18 to kick off the new year.
The Locate Rodeo is an indoor competition using state-of-the-art virtual technology — provided by UTTO — where participants compete with qualified individuals from all around the state.
“The locate rodeo is a fun experience for locators to come together – not only to show off and celebrate their craft – but to receive recognition for their hard work. Grab a locator you know and come on down!” shared Olivia Phillips, Senior Marketing Public Awareness Specialist for Gopher State One Call (GSOC).
Exciting prizes will be awarded to the top finishers. The first-place prize includes an opportunity to compete at the National Locate Rodeo competition this upcoming February in Tampa, Florida!
