Abstract Manager

Municipal agencies are faced with the challenge of managing utility cut installation on their roadway networks. Recent studies have indicated that the impacts of utility cuts can be quantified, and that the associated reduction in roadway asset value and pavement serviceability can be calculated. 

In 2023, the City of Whitehorse (the City) with the assistance of Tetra Tech Canada Inc. (Tetra Tech) completed a study to understand the impact on pavement performance resulting from the presence of utility cuts on its roadway network. The outcome from this study provides the City with the information to consider  a future initiative to establish pavement degradation fees that reflect the actual loss of service life and costs of an accelerated rehabilitation program resulting from utility cut installation,

The challenges of this study are that: 
1)    There are 126 utility cuts in the last 10 years on its about 200 centreline kilometres of network.
2)    In 2018 the City switched to a different Pavement Conditions Index (PCI) method to evaluate their pavement condition. Since then, 73 utility cuts on pavements with PCI ratings were completed. 
3)    The PCI ratings were completed by different teams with the help from summer students. As such, consistency in how the PCI database was produced varies. 

To overcome the challenges, the following approaches are adopted:    
1)    Conducted statistical analyses to examine the quality and significance of the PCI database. PCI values were analyzed using regression and K-test to determine the significance within roadway sections with and without utility cuts.
2)    The statistical analyses provided the basis for further study, including: 
i. Examine the general tread of PCI changes with/without utility cuts at three ranges of pre-utility cut PCI conditions: very good, good, and fair.
ii. Development of two PCI models: a). accelerated deterioration model that considered both the immediate PCI drop and PCI deterioration due to potential long-term impact of utility cuts. b). typical deterioration model that considered only the immediate PCI drop due to utility cuts. 

Outcomes from the study includes a quantified “Impact Cost” in $/m2 for three City roadway classes: Local Roads, Collector Roads, and Arterial Roads, where the impact cost considered the loss in roadway service life from the utility cut installation. A utility cut impact matrix was ultimately produced that allows the City to assess the potential impact based on pre-cut roadway PCI condition at the time of the installation.