Jack and bore is a method of horizontal boring sewer construction. Construction crews drill a hole underground horizontally between two points without disturbing the surface between sending and receiving pits. The tool works in a way very similar to a jack hammer and uses air to pound its way through the ground. These are the basic steps of jack and bore construction:

• Dig sending and receiving pits to the required depth.
• Shore the walls if needed.
• Lay a boring machine in the pit.
• Set up tracks and insert an auger in a casing.
• The boring machine pushes the auger and casing through the ground simultaneously while the machine turns a cutting head through the ground.
• The auger carries the debris back to the machine in the pit.
• Dirt and debris are shoveled out of the pit.

What to Expect During Jack and Bore

• The equipment is loud and causes vibration that you may feel in your home or business. This is standard for this method of construction.
• Both preparation and post-jack and bore work can take a few weeks to complete.
• There may be road closures and lane restrictions.
• There may be inactivity between some phases of this process.
• Typical work hours are 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, but the contractor may schedule work during the same hours on Saturdays.