About Learn from the Unexpected

We’ve all been there. A project’s going well, it’s on time and on budget. But then you encounter something unexpected: an abandoned line or indications of an unmarked line. What steps do you take to keep the project on track?

We want to hear from you about these situations. We want to hear about a time when you experienced the unexpected and how it was resolved.

By sharing our stories, we can work smarter and safer, and we can help the industry grow.

Tell us how you learned from the unexpected today.

Learn From the Unexpected with Jason Ponciano of Vannguard Utility Partners

Jason Ponciano, Minnesota State Manager at Vannguard Utility, discusses the importance of white lining and how it can impact both the locating process and your overall project. Read the full interview with Jason and learn more about the importance of white lining on Gopher State One Call.

A.J. Clark, Badger Infrastructure Solutions

A.J. Clark, locating solutions manager at Badger Infrastructure Solutions, discusses the value of using Meet Notifications (commonly known as “Meet Tickets”) for large-scale projects that will be completed over time. Read the full interview with A.J. and learn more about how you can benefit from using Meet Tickets on the Gopher State One Call website.

Eric Kolcinski, CenterPoint Energy

Eric Kolcinski, damage prevention coordinator for CenterPoint Energy, reminds excavators (both professionals and homeowners) to avoid the unexpected by knowing what to do in case of damage to a buried utility. Read the full interview with Eric and learn more about how you can be prepared if a damage occurs on the Gopher State One Call website.

Christopher Koch, ZoneOne Locating

Christopher Koch, damage prevention educator and president of ZoneOne Locating, reminds Minnesota property owners to avoid the unexpected by making one more important call after contacting 811—to a private facility locator. Read the full interview with Christopher and learn more about how you can protect your home’s private facilities on the Gopher State One Call website.

Gopher State One Call is now accepting submissions for its Learn from the Unexpected video series. Winners will be featured in an online video — complete with an epic entrance — and receive a $200 Visa gift card that they can use for anything from a new pair of work boots to a much-deserved dinner out. Winners will also earn the honorary title of Damage Prevention Influencer.

If your story is not selected, you will still be entered to win a $50 Duluth Trading Co. gift card.

Submit Your Story

Example Story 

We were working on a project to replace a country road. We soon found indications of an unmarked gas line as our machine graded the edge of the road. We’d found that over time, as the road shoulder had been continually scraped down and reworked, the once-deeply buried line was now incredibly shallow. Luckily, the line was not hit, but we placed temporary warning signs as a precaution while we waited for the gas company to come out and assess the line. We were able to complete the project on time, and the gas company opted to have those lines rerouted before any future construction to avoid further damages.

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