HDD River & Canal Crossings

Horizontal directional drilling for a river and canal crossing
Deep, accurate river & canal crossings

Trenchless river and canal crossings using directional drilling – install pipelines deep beneath watercourses while protecting banks, habitats and flow.

Heartland Pipelines crosses rivers, canals and watercourses using horizontal directional drilling, installing pipelines deep beneath the bed without disturbing banks, water flow or aquatic habitats. River crossings have been a Heartland specialism since 2011.

Protecting watercourses and habitats

  • No in-channel works or temporary damming in most cases
  • Deep, accurate bores that protect banks and bed
  • Ideal for environmentally sensitive and protected watercourses
  • Reduced environmental impact versus open-cut

Engineered for difficult ground

Our rock drilling capability and experienced teams allow us to complete crossings in challenging ground where other methods struggle.

Related services: Directional Drilling (HDD), Pipeline Installation, Utilities and Trenching.

Planning a project? Contact our team or call 01952 260505 for a no-obligation quotation.

  • STW-approved Tier 1 contractor
  • WIRS / WaterSafe accredited
  • UKAS certified
  • ISO 14001 environmental
  • Family-run since 2005
  • Ductile-iron HDD pioneer
  • In-house rock drilling

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you install a pipe under a river?

We drill a steered pilot bore deep beneath the riverbed from one bank to the other, ream it to size, then pull the product pipe through - all without entering or damming the watercourse.

Is HDD suitable for protected rivers?

Yes. Because there are no in-channel works, HDD is well suited to environmentally sensitive and protected watercourses.

Horizontal Directional Drilling HDD

The installation of pipelines beneath busy roads or ecologically sensitive rivers without extensive trenching is a significant challenge. Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) addresses this through a highly effective...

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