Undergrounding

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.

Cadiz taps Stantec to lead engineering for $800 million Mojave Groundwater Bank

Once completed, the project will provide 2.5 million acre-feet of new water supply and 1 million acre-feet of underground storage. A 350-mile pipeline network will connect the system to the Colorado River and California Aqueducts, making it the largest new water infrastructure project in the Southwest.

Turning awareness into action: 811 call centers

Despite widespread awareness of 811 requirements, damage to underground utilities remains high. This article urges contractors to consistently use state OneCall centers and provides a full directory for safe digging compliance.

Work progresses on $66 million upgrade to San Diego’s first aqueduct

The San Diego County Water Authority has reached the halfway point on a $66 million project to extend the life of the historic First Aqueduct and maintain reliable water delivery across the region.

Sewer upgrade to begin under Nautical Mile in St. Clair Shores, Mich.

The project will involve the installation of a new sewer line beneath Jefferson Avenue, aiming to reduce sewer discharges into Lake St. Clair.

Smelly Mel’s, Sewer Rat Plumbing fined nearly $530,000 after San Mateo, Calif., trench collapse

California workplace safety regulators have fined Smelly Mel’s Plumbing and Sewer Rat Plumbing a combined $529,640 for safety violations linked to a trench collapse that seriously injured a construction worker in San Mateo on Aug. 1, 2024.

Newsom announces key permit for Delta Conveyance Project, boosting water infrastructure

The Delta Conveyance Project, aimed at upgrading the State Water Project, has received an essential Incidental Take Permit, a necessary approval to move forward with the initiative.

Vortex launches water division to tackle aging infrastructure

Vortex Companies has launched Vortex Water, a new division focused on water infrastructure rehabilitation. The move expands the company's trenchless solutions beyond sewer and industrial systems to address aging water pipelines with advanced materials, liners, and trenchless technologies.