Services · HDD
Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD)
Trenchless bores that place conduit under roads, driveways, sidewalks and landscaped areas — with minimal disruption at the surface.
01Overview
What is horizontal directional drilling?
Horizontal directional drilling (HDD) — also called directional boring — installs conduit underground without open trenching. A steerable drill head follows a planned bore path from an entry point to an exit point, passing beneath obstacles that would otherwise have to be cut, closed or dug up.
Compared with open trenching, only the entry and exit pits disturb the surface. Pavement, driveways and landscaping between them stay in place, traffic and access stay open, and there is far less restoration when the work is done.
For fiber routes, HDD is often the most practical way to cross pavement, driveways and sensitive ground — and it usually pairs with conduit installation and fiber placement on the same route.
What's included
- Road, driveway and sidewalk crossings
- Bores under lawns and landscaped areas
- Single and multi-duct conduit pullback
- Entry and exit pit restoration
- Field records for the as-built
02How it works
From pilot bore to fiber in the ground.
The full HDD sequence on a road crossing — drilled under the pavement and existing utilities, with no open trench.
1Pilot bore
The rig steers a small pilot hole along the designed path while a locator tracks depth and position from the surface.
2Ream & pull back
On the way back, a reamer enlarges the bore and pulls the conduit into place from the reel.
3Fiber placed
Fiber optic cable is placed through the new conduit between access points.
4Restore & record
Entry and exit points are restored, and the installation is recorded for the as-built.
03Process
How the work gets done.
Plan & locate
Review the print and bore profile, confirm existing utilities are located and marked, and set entry and exit points.
Pilot bore
Drill a small pilot hole along the planned path while a locator tracks the drill head's position and depth.
Ream & pull back
Enlarge the hole as required and pull the conduit back through the bore to the entry point.
Restore & record
Restore the pits and surfaces, then record what went in the ground for the as-built.
04Good fit
When to use it
- Crossings where open trenching would close a road or driveway
- Routes under finished landscaping, sidewalks or hardscape
- Sites where surface restoration would be costly or disruptive
05For a quote
What to send us
- Construction prints or a route map
- Approximate bore lengths and conduit size and count
- Site constraints: traffic, access, crossings
- Target start date and schedule
06Questions
Frequently asked
Is HDD the same as directional boring?
Yes. Horizontal directional drilling, directional boring and HDD all describe the same trenchless method: a steerable drill head bores a planned path underground and conduit is pulled back through it.
Do I need a utility locate before HDD in Illinois?
Yes. Existing utilities must be located and marked before any bore. In Illinois locates are requested through JULIE (811), and inside the City of Chicago through 811 Chicago.
How is the bore path controlled?
The drill head carries a transmitter. A locator on the surface tracks its position and depth so the operator can steer along the planned path.
How are existing utilities protected?
Existing utilities are located and marked before work starts, critical crossings are verified, and the bore keeps the separation the design requires.
What happens at the surface?
Only the entry and exit points — and any verification holes — are disturbed. They are restored when the work is complete.
Other services
Fiber Optic Installation
Pulling and placing fiber optic cable through new and existing conduit, built to the construction print.
Learn moreConduit Installation
Single and multi-duct conduit runs placed to depth and route, proofed and ready for cable.
Learn moreUnderground Utility Construction
Handholes, vaults, core holes and restoration — the work that connects a route end to end.
Learn morePlanning an underground or fiber project?
Send the prints and the scope. We will review them and come back with a quote.