When it comes to upgrading electrical and broadband infrastructure, new research from the University of Massachusetts Amherst shows that a “dig once” approach is nearly 40% more cost effective than replacing them separately.

The study, published in the journal Cell Reports Sustainability, also found that the greatest benefit comes from proactively undergrounding lines that are currently above ground, even if lines haven’t reached the end of their usefulness.

Co-undergrounding is the practice of burying both electric and broadband internet lines together.