Underground Utility Contractor in Detroit, MI

Detroit is the largest city in Wayne County and in Michigan, with an estimated 645,705 residents (2024 Census estimate) on about 139 square miles of land.

Underground work in a large city

A large city produces every kind of underground request at once. Homeowners need sewer laterals and water services repaired. Developers converting or building on vacant land need new water, sanitary, storm and power connections. Industrial sites need process lines replaced and pits cleaned. Public owners plan main replacements and storm improvements street by street.

What these jobs share is the need to know what is already in the ground before anything is dug. City streets carry water, sewer, storm, gas, electric and telecom lines, and properties may hold abandoned services or private lines that are not on any current map.

The working sequence reflects that:

• MISS DIG 811 receives the locate request, and the marks are reviewed with the owner's records.
• Lines close to the work are exposed with hydro excavation so their position and depth are known.
• The trench is opened, or pits are set for a directional bore where a street or a lot must stay intact.
• The line is installed or repaired and tested as specified.
• The excavation is backfilled in layers and the surface restored to its owner's standard.

In Detroit, we work for homeowners, businesses, developers, general contractors and public owners.

MISS DIG 811 before excavation

Michigan's notification system is MISS DIG 811, under Public Act 174 of 2013. Notice must be given at least 72 hours (three business days) and at most 14 calendar days ahead, and the ticket lasts 21 days, or 180 days for long projects (MCL 460.725). Openings in public streets also follow the right-of-way owner's conditions.

Detroit and nearby cities

Highland Park, Hamtramck, Hazel Park, Ferndale, Pleasant Ridge and Oak Park are among the cities near Detroit. We serve those communities as well.

Send the address, the kind of line, the work you need and any drawings or photos. We read each request ourselves and come back with questions and a proposed approach.