As someone who has intricate knowledge of these types of projects (Since I design and build them for a living), I'll chime in on this: https://twitter.com/StreetsblogMASS/status/1199683009336791040

1) Existing conditions surveys routinely miss many underground utilities. This is not necessarily the fault of the surveyor, especially in places such as Boston and Cambridge where years of utilities have not been mapped out or recorded accurately.

I can't tell you how much time I spend upfront checking topographic surveys to ensure that all underground utility lines are shown - checking plans supplied by the utility companies, MassDOT/DPW plans and Registry of Deeds records. All in the name of avoiding potential conflicts.

And in rare occurrences, we've had to engage specialty surveyors to trace underground electric duct banks which is a time consuming and expensive process.

2) Many times projects are delayed because of utility relocations, usually utility poles and overhead wires. If the pole setting utility is delayed, it tends to snowball. First the new pole(s) get installed,

then each individual utility company (Electric, Phone, Cable/Fiber Optic, Fire Alarm, etc.) has to move their wires over in a specific order before the old pole even gets removed. Any delay in this chain holds up everything else.

What I've found is that municipally owned electric plants tend to get this work done is relative short time, thankfully. But one of the big electric utilities (whom I won't name) is slow as hell and their relocation process is a frustrating bureaucratic mess.

I can only vouch for projects I've worked on, by if I spend a little more time upfront doing my due diligence, it saves days, if not months, on the back end in actual construction.