Implementation of ultra high pressure water cutting for treatment of flushed chip seals in the US

This paper discusses implementation of ultra-high pressure (UHP) water cutting as a pavement maintenance strategy based on the first large-scale application of UHP water cutting for treatment of flushed chip seals in the USA. Data are from 13 field sites located in four different climatic regions in Texas. Production rates and treatment costs are sensitive to the UHP water cutter equipment, road surface condition, environmental factors and other variables. Production rates for UHP water cutting under Texas road conditions ranged from 490 m²/h to 1560 m²/h, average 830 m²/h, for treatment of light to heavy flushing. Turn-key unit costs for UHP water cutting varied from US $1.77/m² to US $2.08/m² for an average savings of 41% as compared to the cost of typical Texas maintenance solutions for treatment of flushed chip seals. Overall, UHP water cutting shows positive results in terms of treatment effectiveness, durability and production considerations.