The existing road network plays an important role in this: It provides the perfect line infrastructure for fibre optic cables and, besides simple planning, also offers legal security protecting the valuable cables. The Office of the Styrian Government has decided to face this entirely new challenge to road maintainers. Together with the Technical University of Vienna and the Technical University of Graz as well as machine engineering and road building experts, we worked on a new technology for more than two years.

Today, the LAYJET Technology marks by far the most gentle, quick and affordable method to install pipelines in the hard shoulder and is used as the default method by the who’s who of the industry. The method was scientifically accompanied for more than five years and evaluated after hundreds of kilometres of cable had been laid. The LAYJET method can be used on practically every road. First, earth and humus layers are removed. Immediately afterwards the LAYJET milling machine is used to lay up to 5 pipe bundles.

In a single step, a narrow slit trench 18 to 25 cm wide and 50 to 70 cm deep is cut into the hard shoulder approx. 10 cm from the edge of the asphalt layer. Lateral displacement of the laying unit minimises edge loads on the asphalt pavement. A route warning tape is inserted at the desired height and the trench is filled with the remaining removed and prepared material. Thus, the original structure of the road body is retained. During the entire laying process, the trench remains protected by an integrated travelling formwork device, ensuring the road body's stability. 

A specially developed and scientifically tested multi-layer compacting method guarantees at least the same road body stability that was measured before the laying process. After compaction by means of a sheep's foot roller, a special shoulder finisher is used to apply an optimum shoulder and the surface is stabilised by means of a vibratory plate with a force of up to 70 kilonewtons. The integrated sweeping brushes make sure the road is clean and can be used immediately. Thus, the LAYJET method leaves practically no traces and it causes hardly any disruption for authorities and residents.

An integrated satellite receiver supplies accurate height and location information with an accuracy of 2-5 cm during the laying process. This allows for digital location documentation that is simple and cost efficient.

The LAYJET milling machine can effortlessly dig into asphalt, concrete and heavy soil classes. Lines with curve radii of up to 4 metres can be installed without having to lift the milling machine. Additionally, this construction method minimally disrupts traffic and only produces low amounts of dirt and noise.