Est. 2005 · UK-wide trenchless installations07920 553 578·chris@swdd.co.uk
A directional drilling rig set up for a road crossing

Case Studies

Selected projects

A look at real trenchless crossings we've delivered across the UK. The ground we faced, the method we chose, and what it saved. From the project where advising directional drilling over tunnelling saved the client around £1 million, to high-voltage cable ducts drilled in for a grid connection on a live National Grid site. We're adding more here, including growth-sector and location-anchored jobs.

Get a quoteCall 07920 553 578
Directional drilling rig boring the 900mm outfall through rock at Hopton

Gravity Drainage · 2018

900mm drainage outfall, drilled through rock — Hopton

A 900mm gravity outfall directional-drilled down a wooded valley side to the brook, through strong rock and a buried ironworks, in place of the proposed tunnel, saving the client around £1 million.

Read the case study →
S.W.Directional Drilling crew and rig installing electric cable ducts at Iron Acton

Grid Connection · 2025

HV cable ducts, drilled in for a grid connection — Iron Acton

Two directional-drilled crossings installing the HV cable ducts for a battery-storage grid connection on a live National Grid site, under a road that stayed open and a protected hedgerow left standing. With site video.

Read the case study →
The tidal River Parrett at Pawlett Hams where the water main was drilled underneath

River Crossing · 2017

252m water main, drilled under a tidal river — Pawlett Hams

A 355mm water main steered under the tidal River Parrett near Bridgwater, through clay and rock, to restore freshwater to a protected SSSI grazing marsh. One of the longest river crossings drilled in the South West, completed in about four days.

Read the case study →
An S.W.Directional Drilling vehicle on the M5 hard shoulder beside the live carriageway during the smart motorway crossings

Highways · 2016

42 multi-way installations under the live M5 — Smart Motorway

42 of 42 cross-carriageway multi-duct installations directional-drilled beneath the live M5 (Junction 4a to 6) for Balfour Beatty Vinci, guided on walkover with no detectable settlement. Three rigs, around eight weeks of night shifts.

Read the case study →
The overhead 400kV lines at the Killingholme substation site where the Hornsea Two grid connection was drilled

Grid Connection · 2019

400kV grid connection for Hornsea Two — Killingholme

Two cable-duct bores directional-drilled for the final 400kV grid connection of the Hornsea Two offshore wind farm, for Balfour Beatty and Ørsted. Three 250mm and two 125mm ducts per bore, steered across live 400kV cables into the new substation. North Lincolnshire.

Read the case study →

More coming

Your job could be next

We've drilled crossings all over the UK, rail, highways, rivers, drainage, large-diameter ducts and more. Want to know if we can drill yours, or compare it to a tunnel or jack?

Send us your drawings →

Have a crossing or installation to price?

Send us your drawings, levels or specification and we'll give you a free, no-obligation review and budget price.

Request a quoteCall 07920 553 578