Reduction in Service Life of Asphalt Pavements Due To Utility Cuts - A Forensic Investigation in the City of Calgary

A forensic investigation was conducted to determine the level of impact on the service life of pavements in the City of Calgary due to utility cuts. The impact was evaluated separately for arterial, collector, and local roads. Additionally, for each road class pavements in different age groups were evaluated. A total of 72 sections (24 for each road class) from different geographic locations in the City were selected to provide statistically significant data. Each of the 72 sections consisted of a sampl eunit with a utility cut and an adjacent sample unit without a utility cut. Field investigation included visual distress evaluation, Falling Weight Deflectometer testing, ground penetrating radar survey, and roughness evaluation for both samples in each section. The results from the smple unit with utility cuts were analyzed and compared with the results from sample unit without utility cuts, to determine the loss in pavement service life due to the presence of a cut. Statistical analyses were carried out to confirm the research hypothesis. This paper discusses and summarizes all the above research activities.