Safe, Compliant, Inspection-Ready
Excavation & Trenching Support
Professional excavation support for utility and infrastructure projects. Bell holes, potholing, shoring, trench plating, backfill, and street restoration. Every excavation is OSHA-compliant, inspection-ready, and restored to pre-construction condition.
What's Included
What's Included in Excavation Support
Bell Holes & Potholing
- ✓ Precision bell hole excavation for pipe access
- ✓ Vacuum potholing for non-destructive utility exposure
- ✓ Hand excavation in sensitive utility corridors
- ✓ Sized and shaped for the specific work to be performed
Shoring & Safety
- ✓ Trench box and hydraulic shoring installation
- ✓ Benching and sloping per OSHA soil classification
- ✓ Confined space entry setup and monitoring
- ✓ Daily trench inspection and safety documentation
Trench Plating & Backfill
- ✓ Steel trench plate installation for traffic crossings
- ✓ Engineered backfill with compaction testing
- ✓ Controlled Low Strength Material (CLSM) backfill
- ✓ Lift-by-lift compaction per project specifications
Street Restoration
- ✓ Asphalt and concrete trench patch restoration
- ✓ Sidewalk, curb, and gutter repair
- ✓ Landscape and irrigation restoration
- ✓ City-compliant paving per encroachment permit requirements
Our Process
How It Works
Plan & Mark
We review excavation plans, verify USA markings, and confirm shoring and safety requirements before any digging begins.
Excavate
Our crew excavates to the required depth and dimensions using the appropriate method, whether machine, vacuum, or hand excavation, and installs shoring immediately.
Support the Work
We maintain the excavation in a safe, inspection-ready condition while the plumbing, utility, or infrastructure work is performed.
Backfill & Restore
We backfill in lifts with compaction testing, remove shoring and plating, and restore the surface per city or county permit requirements.
Related Services
Other Services You Might Need
Service Area
Where We Provide Excavation Support
Northern California coverage — contact us to check availability in your area.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A bell hole is a localized excavation at a specific point on a pipe or utility, typically 4 to 6 feet long, used for repairs, tie-ins, or inspections. An open trench is a continuous excavation along the full length of a pipe run. Bell holes minimize surface disruption and are faster to restore.
We restore streets per the encroachment permit requirements, which typically include compacted backfill, a base layer, and asphalt or concrete paving. Most cities require a T-cut (extending the patch beyond the trench edges) and matching the existing surface material and thickness.
OSHA requires protective systems for all trenches 5 feet or deeper, and for shallower trenches in unstable soil. We evaluate soil conditions on every project and install trench boxes, hydraulic shores, or slope the trench walls as appropriate for the depth and soil type.
An inspection-ready excavation is clean, properly shored, correctly sized, and documented so that a city, county, or utility inspector can evaluate the work immediately upon arrival. We prepare every excavation to pass inspection on the first visit.
A single bell hole can be excavated, worked in, and restored in one to two days. Larger trench projects with street restoration typically take three to five days. Projects requiring city paving permits may add a few days for scheduling and inspection.
Need Excavation Support?
Get a free estimate or call for 24/7 emergency service.