Utilization of Trenchless Construction Methods by Canadian Municipalities

Abstract

Trenchless technology is an emerging area of construction involving innovative methods, materials, and equipment used for the installation of new and the rehabilitation or replacement of existing underground infrastructure with minimal or no need for open cut excavation. This technology provides an alternative to traditional methods of open trenching construction, which is often associated with major disruptions to surface activities. The results of a survey of trenchless construction methods in Canada are presented in this paper. The survey, which was sent to 87 municipalities across Canada, provides an indication of current and future trends in the application of trenchless construction technologies in the municipal arena including type and frequency of technologies employed, percentage of projects that employed trenchless technologies, and contractor selection methods. The survey results indicate that trenchless technology is gaining increasing popularity among municipal engineers across Canada. The percentage of all municipal projects utilizing trenchless construction methods has grown over the past 5 years by 180% (new construction) and 270% (rehabilitation). The survey also revealed that the typical Canadian municipality spends $29.68/capita on new construction of municipal service lines and $18.21/capita on rehabilitation of existing lines.