“Underground, under Where?” How Many Communities Are Turning to Trenchless Applications to Solve Their Challenges

When it comes to linear conveyance/collection infrastructure, advances in technology continue to push the limits on what is possible and shape the public’s perception on what is acceptable. This has never been truer than in the tunneling and trenchless technology industry today. Significant advances have made tunneling possible in just about every geologic condition. Where once a body of water, groundwater, a building, topography, or difficult ground may have dictated an alternate alignment, advances in equipment, and monitoring now frequently allow trenchless applications to be installed in a variety of situations. Boundaries are continually being pushed and new technologies have allowed trenchless applications to be installed where never thought possible. Many utility owners are realizing they have an expanding arsenal of options at their disposal to install key infrastructure while minimizing disruptions to the general public. It is not uncommon for linear projects to frequently cross multiple socio-economic boundaries where stakeholders may have competing interests. For an example, one end of the alignment may involve commercial districts that prefer disruptions outside of daylight hours, whereas the other end may involve residential stakeholders that protest those same hours. Trenchless alternatives not only provide a possible solution for these competing interests, but they can also solve many other logistical issues when working in urban environments. This paper will address the viability of available trenchless construction methods and provide a couple examples of how communities are turning toward innovative tunneling and other trenchless methods to improve the quality of life for their stakeholders and communities.