Undergrounding
Astound to build $34 million fiber-optic network in Orland Park, Ill.
Astound Broadband has begun a $34 million project to extend 285 miles of underground fiber-optic cable across Orland Park and nearby suburbs, the company said June 24.
SCE to bury 63 miles of new power lines in fire-damaged Altadena, Calif.
Southern California Edison will install 63 miles of underground electrical lines in Altadena, starting in 2025. The project targets fire-damaged areas and supports future clean energy needs.
Underground power line pilot cuts storm outages to zero in Michigan counties
Consumers Energy reports early success from its 9-mile underground power line pilot, with data showing zero storm-related outages in pilot areas so far in 2025—outperforming surrounding overhead systems.
Assessment finds undergrounding work in Conn. would cost $500 million more than overhead solution
United Illuminating has completed a third-party cost estimate, finding that undergrounding a key section of electric transmission lines between Bridgeport and Fairfield would cost approximately $838 million, as opposed to the $306 million estimate for an overhead solution. The added cost would fall solely on Connecticut ratepayers.
Heath to divest 811 locate services to USIC, sharpen focus on emissions tech
Heath Consultants is selling its 811 locate services to USIC to focus on methane emissions detection technologies. The deal, expected to close by Q3 2025, supports Heath’s strategic pivot toward advanced leak detection and regulatory compliance tools.
Dallas flood relief tunnel 80% complete, final lining work underway underground
Major excavation began in 2019 and wrapped up in 2022, but work continues to install a 15-inch-thick concrete liner along the tunnel walls to create a smooth, finished surface for water flow.
Undergrounding pilot program in Michigan proves effective against severe weather
Underground lines currently make up about 15% of all Consumers Energy electric lines, most being in subdivisions and areas with high population density. Burying lines improves reliability by 90% or more. In the next 5 years, the company aims to bury over 1,000 miles of line, subject to regulatory approval.
Staten Island completes $84 million storm sewer upgrade in Sandy-hit New Dorp Beach
NYC completes $84 million underground storm sewer project in Staten Island’s New Dorp Beach, adding over 1.6 miles of drainage upgrades in Superstorm Sandy-affected area.
SCE wildfire plan calls for 260 miles of new underground lines across Southern California
Southern California Edison’s $6.2 billion wildfire mitigation plan includes 260 miles of underground power lines to reduce ignition risk, alongside expanded covered conductor use and AI-driven grid monitoring.
Pasadena, Calif., undergrounding project could take 500 years to finish
Pasadena, Calif., may need 500 more years to complete its underground utility project, citing cost, complexity, and coordination delays.
Body retrieved day after fatal trench collapse at Bakersfield, Calif., job site
A construction worker died after falling into a 20-foot trench at a site in west Bakersfield, Calif. Rescue teams recovered the body overnight, and an investigation is ongoing.
Work paused on NYC’s massive tunnel repair as drought triggers contract overhaul
The $2 billion effort to fix a leak in New York City’s Delaware Aqueduct, which supplies water to millions, is now expected to finish after 2027 due to drought-related delays and contract revisions.
CenterPoint completes 400 miles of undergrounding ahead of 2025 hurricane season
As part of the Greater Houston Resiliency Initiative (GHRI), CenterPoint Energy announced that it has installed 400 miles of underground power lines over the past eight months, completing 100% of its strategic undergrounding goal ahead of schedule and before the start of the 2025 hurricane season.
Las Vegas, Nev., dark fiber project underway as LSC expands network for AI, data centers
Light Source Communications (LSC) has started construction on a 60-mile dark fiber network in Las Vegas, marking its third major project in less than a year.
$51 million settlement adds to delays on Hartford, Conn., 41-million-gallon sewer tunnel
Hartford, Connecticut’s massive South Hartford Conveyance and Storage Tunnel project is now expected to cost $335 million and won’t be completed until 2026 after a legal dispute over groundwater conditions delayed progress.
UI Awards 2025: Top projects, technologies honored during Underground Infrastructure Conference
UI Awards 2025 recognized leading underground infrastructure achievements, including major sewer, fiber, water and rehabilitation projects, at the annual awards dinner during the Underground Infrastructure Conference.
Rosemead, Calif., utility to bury power lines in fire-hit Altadena, Malibu rebuild
Southern California Edison plans to underground over 150 circuit miles of power lines in Altadena and Malibu as part of a wildfire recovery effort, aiming to boost resilience and reduce future fire risks.
ProStar, Pix4D launch 3D mobile mapping tool for underground infrastructure
ProStar Holdings Inc. has partnered with 3D mapping firm Pix4D to integrate their technologies and deliver a real-time, mobile-friendly solution for visualizing underground infrastructure.
Astound completes 108-mile underground fiber build along Oregon’s Highway 6
Astound Broadband has finished constructing a 108-mile underground fiber route along Highway 6, delivering high-speed internet access to rural areas of Tillamook County for the first time.
Ditch Witch West sells first Bulldog trencher to speed up undergrounding work along West Coast
Ditch Witch West has sold its first Bulldog trencher, designed by UK manufacturer Mastenbroek, to Cox and Cox Construction, a full-service underground utility contractor licensed in California and Nevada. Mastenbroek designed the Bulldog for underground utility installation, particularly in areas where overhead electrical cables could cause or be destroyed by forest fires.
Griffolyn pre-liners improve reliability in trenchless pipe lining
Griffolyn reinforced pre-liners offer added protection and reliability during CIPP trenchless pipe rehabilitation, helping prevent resin washout, liner buckling, and installation delays in water and sewer infrastructure projects.
California fast-tracks underground utility rebuild after Los Angeles fires
Governor Gavin Newsom has signed an executive order to accelerate the rebuilding of critical underground utility systems in fire-damaged areas of Los Angeles County, including Altadena, Malibu, and Pacific Palisades.
MTA advances $7.7 billion East Harlem subway tunnel project with $186 million oversight contract
The MTA has approved a $186.6 million contract with AECOM-HNTB to oversee tunneling and systems work for Phase 2 of the Second Avenue Subway extension, advancing one of New York’s largest underground infrastructure projects into East Harlem.
Los Alamos, N.M., hit by second network outage after fiber line breaks during construction
For the second time in a week, Los Alamos, N.M., experienced a network outage on March 17 after construction crews accidentally severed fiber lines along NM-4.
Worm-like robot burrows underground to cut power line installation costs
The innovation, known as a "peristaltic conduit," mimics the segmented movement of earthworms to propel itself through the soil with minimal disruption to existing infrastructure.
Fairfield, Conn., to begin $31 million East Trunk sewer line replacement in May
A long-planned replacement of the East Trunk sewer line is set to begin in May 2025, with construction expected to last about 18 months. The project will replace aging sewer infrastructure to improve wastewater system reliability, reduce maintenance costs, and prevent future disruptions.
JCP&L begins work to install 2,000 ft of underground electrical lines in northern N.J.
Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L), a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp., has begun construction on a year-long project to upgrade overhead and install new underground electric service in portions of Sussex County. The $5.1 million project is expected to be completed in November.
Williams Cos. highlights underground infrastructure’s role in surging natural gas demand at UIC 2025
At the Underground Infrastructure Conference on March 5, Glenn Koch, Vice President-Project Execution at Williams Co., addressed the growing demand for natural gas and the role underground infrastructure will play in meeting energy needs.
Williams highlights infrastructure’s role in surging gas demand at UIC 2025
At UIC 2025, Williams Co. VP Glenn Koch outlined how underground infrastructure and natural gas storage are critical to meeting surging U.S. energy demand, driven by data centers and peak-day power needs.
Two workers killed in Maryland trench collapse during home renovation
Two construction workers were killed on Feb. 28 after a trench collapsed while they were working on a home renovation project in Catonsville, Maryland, fire officials confirmed.
- 290-mile gas pipeline expansion proposed across Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina
- City of Albuquerque halts fiber optic construction in response to damage, complaints
- Body retrieved day after fatal trench collapse at Bakersfield, Calif., job site
- $227 million Garnet Valley water project advances, set to create 73,000 jobs in Nevada
- Pasadena, Calif., undergrounding project could take 500 years to finish
- Gehl and Mustang offer world’s largest skid loader
- Growing Pains and Gains
- Authorities investigating trench collapse that killed worker in Ashburn, Va.
- City of Albuquerque halts fiber optic construction in response to damage, complaints
- Pasadena, Calif., undergrounding project could take 500 years to finish