Page 21 - AL811 2022 issue 4

primitive as it was, it was worth the effort to get a utility line to the other side of the street without cutting the street. Once there was some success in avoiding street cuts, the industry developed fairly rapidly as the demand of HDD services grew.
In fact, the Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) Industry has experienced so much growth in the past few decades that HDD has become commonplace as a method of installation. This growth has been driven by the benefits offered to utility owners (such as the elimination of traffic disruption and minimal surface damage) and by the ingenuity of contractors in developing this technology.
I’m not saying that HDD is the best solution in every case, because it’s not. But there are so many opportunities for cost savings and quickly completing projects that it is an option that shouldn’t be overlooked.
Back in the earliest days, backhoes or trackhoes were pushing pipe under city streets with their buckets. As primitive as it was, it was worth the effort to get a utility line to the other side of the street without cutting the street.
Some say that technology in the industry has outgrown necessary damage prevention training needed to ensure that already buried utilities lines aren’t damaged in the rush to place newer or bigger utility lines.
The really good contractors, whether open trench or HDD, all say the first step to any successful project is to call 811 before you dig. They understand the value of waiting the appropriate time for the underground utility lines to be marked.
While locators are becoming more accurate, it’s still important to see exactly where the line or pipe is located.
As a result, the contractor will properly expose (pothole) the underground utility to determine the horizontal and vertical location of the utility.
Some municipalities and utility companies do not consider potholing to be an option. Rather, it is viewed as an essential phase of underground construction for all types of excavation including horizontal directional drilling (HDD) operations.
Yes sir, these new boring rigs coupled with utilizing best practices, like calling 811 and then boring safely make them worth their weight in holes...
Bore safely!
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2022, Issue 4
Alabama 811 • 19