Abstract Manager

Utility cuts are an inevitable aspect of modern cities urban development; however, they significantly impact the long-term performance and serviceability of pavement infrastructure. Repeated excavations weaken pavement structures, accelerate deterioration, and increase the frequency and cost of maintenance and rehabilitation. Accurately estimating the economic costs associated with these impacts is crucial for developing effective mitigation strategies, ensuring equitable cost allocation among stakeholders, and promoting responsible excavation practices that minimize disruption to the urban transportation system.

The current study presents a sequential framework for quantifying the detrimental impact of road cuts on road pavements using Pavement Management System (PMS) historical data. By integrating spatial data of road cuts events with road functional class data, the study identifies critical road candidates vulnerable to degradation.

Furthermore, the study quantifies the actual and potential degradation caused by road cuts by integrating historical pavement condition assessments with road cuts data for the previously identified road candidates. This analysis includes the quantification of serviceability loss percentage and its variation with pavement age, along with the estimation of roads’ remaining service life for each functional class following a road cut.

Based on these findings, a data-driven degradation fee schedule is developed, considering serviceability loss and pre-cut pavement age, to accurately reflect the varying levels of impact on different road types and locations, ensuring that those responsible for the excavations bear a proportionate share of the associated costs. This data-driven approach promotes responsible excavation practices, provides dedicated funding for road maintenance, and enhances the overall sustainability and resilience of urban transportation systems.