The impact of trenching on urban road operation and maintenance

Abstract

Trenching works on road pavement is essential with most utility cables being underground. However, such works often leads to road deterioration due to a number of reasons. Trenching works on road pavement usually occurs in the road shoulder to minimize disturbance to traffic. This project aims to investigate the impact of such trenching works on urban road operation and maintenance work. Information regarding the impact of trenching, current standards and Codes of Practice, factors leading to the deterioration of roads after trenching and current methods used by local councils are researched. A number of sites around the Klang valley are then investigated and compared with the current standards available. The advantages and disadvantages of both methods are identified and the best possible methods are then determined. From the investigation, it can be concluded that both the standards employed by the local city council and the usual practice of the contractor have their own advantages. The standards and guidelines provided by the local city councils are found to be more effective whereas the usual practice of the sub-contractor is found to be more economical. Therefore, there should be a closer liaison between the road authority and utility department's personnel with the contractor.