Directional Boring

Directional boring, also known as horizontal directional drilling (HDD), is a steerable trenchless installation method. A drill rig launches a bore head from the surface at a shallow angle, steers it along a designed path underground, and emerges at a predetermined exit point. The bore is then enlarged with reamers, and the product pipe or conduit is pulled back through the enlarged hole.

Hydrovac excavation plays a critical support role in directional boring operations. Hydrovac trucks are used to dig entry and exit pits, expose existing utilities along the bore path for clearance verification, and create access holes for tracking equipment. When a bore inadvertently encounters an existing utility, hydrovac is used to safely expose the crossing for inspection.

Directional boring is commonly used for road, river, and railroad crossings where open-cut trenching is impractical or prohibited. Product sizes range from small-diameter fiber optic conduits to large-diameter water mains and gas pipelines. The method significantly reduces surface disruption, restoration costs, and traffic impacts compared to traditional trenching.