Safe and efficient pipeline installation below river in Jacksonville, NC
In August and September 2025, Brownline USA surveyed two parallel horizontal directional drilling projects in North Carolina. The installation of a new wastewater force main required crossing an environmentally sensitive river. Thanks to guidance provided by Brownline USA using the Drillguide Gyro Steering Tool, the river crossing was completed with the highest accuracy.
Project background
The Western Regional Sewer Project is a major upgrade to the wastewater infrastructure in the city of Jacksonville, North Carolina. It will provide increased capacity, which is needed to accommodate the city’s future growth.
In total, more than 10 km / 6 miles of force main will be newly constructed. One segment of this pipeline crosses the New River, west of Jacksonville. Protecting this river and the forests surrounding it during construction of the pipeline was an important goal, which meant a non-invasive construction method was required.
Parallel HDD crossings necessary to install force main
To install the force main below the river with minimal environmental impact, a horizontal directional drill with a length of 703 m / 2309 ft was designed. Parallel to the 42” HDPE pipe installation, a mud return line was drilled to better control the returns of drilling fluid during operations.
Avoiding deviations from the planned trajectory was very important and required careful monitoring of the drill head position. This is why HDD contractor TB Landmark Construction Inc. called in Brownline USA to provide guidance services on the pilot bores.
Gyroscopic measurements below inaccessible area
Brownline USA surveyed both of these crossings using the Drillguide Gyro Steering Tool and GPS track. Thanks to these high tech solutions, the contractor could rely on the most accurate downhole measurements, transmitted to the driller and surveyor in real-time. The Drillguide GST is exceptionally suited for jobs such as this, since it operates independently from its environment and it does not require surface access above the drill path
Brownline’s expert guidance on site made it possible to keep the drill on course during the pilot phase, and drill the required trajectory smoothly and efficiently. This directly contributed to the overall safety of the pipeline installation below the river.
See the video below for some great drone footage of the site, shot by TB Landmark Construction Inc.:
