Capabilities
What we can bore, and how far.
Four methods, four different sets of ground conditions. The right one depends on the diameter, the length, how deep the cover is and what is sitting on the surface. If your crossing sits on the edge of one of these ranges, call - the edge is usually where the interesting engineering is.
| Method | Diameter | Max drive | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Horizontal Directional Drilling | 36 in | 2,200 ft | River, creek and wetland crossings |
| Auger Boring | 12 – 72 in | 600 ft | Railroad crossings to carrier specification |
| Pilot Tube Guided Bore | 8 – 30 in | 400 ft | Gravity sanitary sewer on a fixed invert |
| Microtunneling | 30 – 96 in | 1,000 ft between shafts | Deep gravity interceptors and outfalls |
01 - Method
Horizontal Directional DrillingHDD
A pilot bore is steered along a designed profile, then reamed and the carrier pipe is pulled back through it. Nothing above the crossing is touched, which is why HDD is the method of choice under a river, a five-lane highway or a parking lot the owner cannot close.
Where it fits
- River, creek and wetland crossings
- Highway crossings with no lane closure
- Fiber and duct bank under developed corridors
- Water and force main through congested downtowns
| Maximum pipe diameter | 36 in |
|---|---|
| Maximum single shot | 2,200 ft |
| Typical depth of cover | 8 – 60 ft |
| Pipe materials | HDPE, fusible PVC, steel |
| Rig sizes on the yard | 20k to 100k lb pullback |
02 - Method
Auger BoringAuger
A track-mounted machine jacks steel casing forward while an auger removes spoil through it. It is the method most rail carriers and state DOTs name in their own crossing standards, because the casing goes in on a straight line at a controlled grade and the surface above never moves.
Where it fits
- Railroad crossings to carrier specification
- Highway and interstate casings
- Gravity sewer where grade cannot vary
- Casing for later carrier pipe installation
| Casing diameter | 12 – 72 in |
|---|---|
| Maximum single drive | 600 ft |
| Grade tolerance | ±1% on a cased drive |
| Casing material | Steel, 0.375 – 0.750 in wall |
| Pit shoring | Trench box or sheeted, engineered |
03 - Method
Pilot Tube Guided BorePilot tube
A theodolite watches a lighted target in the head while the pilot tube is jacked to the receiving pit, so the alignment is checked continuously instead of hoped for. Where a gravity line has to hit an invert within a fraction of an inch, this is the method that gets it there.
Where it fits
- Gravity sanitary sewer on a fixed invert
- Short crossings inside developed street grids
- Storm drainage under existing pavement
- Work where a receiving pit is the only open cut
| Product pipe diameter | 8 – 30 in |
|---|---|
| Maximum drive length | 400 ft |
| Line and grade accuracy | ±0.5 in over the drive |
| Pipe materials | VCP, RCP, PVC, steel |
| Launch shaft | From 8 ft diameter |
04 - Method
MicrotunnelingMTBM
A closed-face machine is driven from a shaft with nobody in the tunnel, balancing the ground pressure at the face as it goes. It is the method for a deep interceptor below the water table, or for ground that would run into an open bore and take the street above with it.
Where it fits
- Deep gravity interceptors and outfalls
- Crossings below the water table
- Ground too loose or wet for an open bore
- Long runs where a shaft is cheaper than a street
| Finished diameter | 30 – 96 in |
|---|---|
| Maximum drive length | 1,000 ft between shafts |
| Working depth | To 65 ft below grade |
| Ground conditions | Below water table, mixed face |
| Guidance | Laser with active steering |
Fleet
The iron that does it
A capability you have to rent is a capability you cannot schedule. Everything below is ours, on our yard, with our operators on it.
Directional drills
Four rigs from 24,000 to 100,000 lb of pullback, with the mud systems and recyclers to match.
Auger boring machines
Track machines covering 12 through 72 inch casing, with the power packs and pit gear.
Guided bore systems
Pilot tube rigs with theodolite guidance for gravity work on a fixed invert.
Microtunnel boring machine
Closed-face slurry MTBM with laser guidance for drives below the water table.
Locating and survey
Walkover and wireline locating, vacuum excavation trucks, and GPS survey for as-builts.
Support fleet
Excavators, cranes, trench shoring, dewatering pumps and the trucks to keep it all moving.
Not sure which method your crossing needs?
That is the normal state of affairs at the plans stage. Send what you have - we will tell you which of the 4 fits, and what the other options would cost you.
Request a bidWe install potable water, sewer & storm drainage, gas & petroleum, electric power, communications & fiber, reclaimed water & irrigation.