Trenchless Technology & Subsurface Construction

Chapter 11

Benefits, Economics, Social Impacts, Safety of Trenchless Techniques

for Subsurface Utility Infrastructure

Benefits

Other than in the UK there is little recent legislation of direct relevance to trenchless technology.  Thus much of this section is concerned with the UK legislative procedure and the impact of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991.

The extent to which governments can or should legislate to minimise social or indirect costs resulting from the opening up of streets and highways to install or maintain underground utility services is debatable.  Such costs fall to society at large and, in particular, the travelling public (whether on foot or on wheels) who may suffer delays, disruption or even injury by such works.  The interest of the trenchless industry in this subject is obvious - legislation requiring or encouraging the use of non-disruptive construction methods will also be beneficial to the industry.  Other types of legislation may also have a beneficial effect.

Everyone has their own examples of being held up in traffic or of bumping or tripping over poor reinstatements.  Roadside trees in the UK are being destroyed by shallow trenching for the laying of cable TV.  Calculation of the cost is difficult but undoubtedly runs into millions of pounds, dollars or any other currency.  An interesting illustration of this (nothing to do with trenchless technology) occurred in the US when the Federal Government closed Pennsylvania Avenue in downtown Washington DC on security grounds.  The Federal Highway Administration agreed to pay the District of Columbia $(US) 165,000 for the cost of installing traffic control devices and signs to alleviate congestion caused by the closure.  But Congresswoman Norton claimed that this sum went nowhere near representing the full cost, which she contended ran into many millions of dollars that arose form the economic damage to the surrounding area.  Even allowing for some political hyperbole, it is clear that the cost to the general public of closing a main thoroughfare in downtown Washington is very much greater than the sum volunteered by the Federal authorities....................for more details