Keyhole technology: A “green” process.Keyhole technology is a process that uses smallopenings in the pavement to access buried utilities forroutine operations and pavement repairs. Because ituses minimally invasive openings, it’s often comparedwith laparascopic surgery.

Reduced traffic disruption.Faster, one-step permanent pavement repair meansfewer and shorter road closings. Benefits include:

KEYHOLE CORING AND REINSTATEMENTA better, smarter, and more environmentally sensitive way

to make and repair utility cuts through pavement

This less intrusive, precise excavationand simple reinstatement process iskind to the environment.Keyhole coring and reinstatement reduces the workactivity footprint.• Requires no heavy equipment• Results in less scarring to the landscape• Creates no road cut spoil• Uses no volatile temporary patching compounds

that can escape into the atmosphere• Core serves as a permanent waterproof repair

that requires no additional site visits or roadclosings

The neat, nearly invisible 18-inch-diameter circularcut is less than 25% the size of a conventionalroad cut that generates substantial noise and dust.

In the keyhole coring and reinstatement process,operators use a rotary coring device to core a smallhole through the pavement. Vacuum excavation is thenused to expose the underground utilities. The pavementcore is then “recycled” by setting it aside and bondingit back into the roadway as a permanent repair whenwork is completed.

This is an environmentally friendly, socially acceptableconstruction and maintenance practice. It reduces theimpact of public works construction on the environmentby conserving energy and resources and reducingpollution.

• Reduced fuelconsumption andemissions during workzone delays

• Less dust and noisepollution

• Fewer potholes andother damage to theroad structure

key

keyhole coring and reinstatementENVIRONMENTAL

balance sheet

Nearly 900,000 utility cut permits are issued in the U.S. every year. All of these cutscould be performed through a 2-ft x 3-ft or smaller opening, making them idealprojects for keyhole technology. Following is just one example of the savings thatare realized with the use of keyhole technology.

Keyhole technology savesmaterial and energy.Using the original pavement coreremoved in the excavation process torepair the pavement when the job is donesaves 2 million tons of asphaltconcrete (equivalent to 20,000 miles ofa four-lane highway).

With no pavement spoil, reduction in spoildisposal saves 27 million cubic feetof material (equivalent to 200,000dump trucks).

Keyhole technology saves time.After keyhole core reinstatements, roadscan be safely reopened to traffic in as littleas 30 minutes. And the repair ispermanent, so there’s no need foradditional site visits. That can savesignificant time in work zone delaysand traffic congestion.

Keyhole technology saves money.The U.S. gas industry spends more than $1billion every year on excavation andrestoration. Conventional repairs made withbackhoes, dump trucks, pavement breakers,and other heavy equipment can account foras much as 80% of the total cost of theserepairs.

Estimated restoration cost savings to utilitiesthrough the use of keyhole technology rangefrom $340 to $900 million.

The reductions in structural damage to theroad system, longer pavement life, andreduced maintenance that result from the useof keyhole technology can save millions oftax dollars.

Keyhole coring and reinstatement is abetter way to perform utility cuts andpavement restoration that can reap realsavings and environmental benefits.

To learn more about how keyholetechnology can save you money andtime – and create a safer workenvironment – contact:Dennis JarneckeGTI R&D Program Manager847-768-0943 ordennis.jarnecke@gastechnology.org