UIC 2026 Live: Texas city cuts utility costs with in-house HDD program
By Mary Holcomb, Lead Digital Editor
(UI) — While at the Underground Infrastructure Conference (UIC) on Jan. 27 at the Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center in San Antonio, officials from the City of North Richland Hills, Texas, outlined how a long-running, in-house horizontal directional drilling (HDD) program has helped the city save time, reduce costs and maintain tighter control over utility construction.
The session, titled “Texas City Saves Time and Money with HDD: A DIY Approach,” was presented by Josh Oler, Utility Superintendent for the City of North Richland Hills; Justin Dean, Construction Superintendent for the city; and Craig Fisher, Texas Regional Engineer at Westlake Pipe & Fittings.
According to the presenters, North Richland Hills began performing HDD work internally more than two decades ago, allowing municipal crews to install water, sewer and conduit infrastructure without relying exclusively on outside contractors. The approach has helped the city avoid repeated mobilization costs, reduce surface disruption and respond more quickly to both planned projects and emergency repairs.
City crews routinely use HDD to cross roadways, creeks and other surface obstacles where open-cut construction would be disruptive or impractical. Presenters said many bores can be completed within hours, allowing traffic and surface conditions to be restored far faster than traditional excavation methods.
A key benefit of the in-house program, the speakers noted, is scheduling flexibility. Because HDD crews are city employees, work can be prioritized around operational needs rather than contractor availability. That flexibility has proven especially valuable during emergency situations when utilities must restore service quickly while minimizing impacts to residents and businesses.
Equipment selection has been critical to the program’s success. Over the years, the city has upgraded and right-sized its HDD rigs to match typical bore lengths and local ground conditions, rather than investing in oversized equipment rarely used to full capacity. Presenters emphasized that understanding local soils — which include a mix of clays and sands — has been essential for managing drilling fluids, maintaining bore stability and avoiding frac-outs.
Staffing and training remain ongoing challenges, particularly as experienced operators retire, relocate or move on to other projects. To address this, the city has focused on cross-training personnel and documenting best practices to preserve institutional knowledge. Maintaining consistent crews, presenters said, has improved quality control and reduced the learning curve often associated with contracted work.
The presenters concluded that while an in-house HDD program is not practical for every municipality, cities with steady trenchless workloads may see long-term benefits from bringing directional drilling capabilities in-house — especially as surface congestion, permitting challenges and restoration costs continue to increase.
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