After 20 years, Turner Underground Installations Inc. has earned a reputation for dependability, adaptability and safety. “We [are determined] to overcome project obstacles and complete our work on spec and on schedule,” the company says.

Henrietta, N.Y.-based Turner Underground says it is a pioneer of mobilized horizontal directional drilling in the northeastern United States. “We are a full-service contract driller with experience across every major construction market segment, including concentrated work on natural gas and electrical construction projects, wind farms and long-line installations,” it says. 

Founder Robert Turner started the company in 1995. After nearly 20 years in the construction business, he learned about trenchless digging technology, but discovered that little or no directional drilling was performed in the Northeast.

“After speaking with equipment manufacturers, what began as a simple curiosity quickly turned into action,” Turner Underground says. “He decided to make a trip to witness several projects and gather practical job site information.”

When Turner returned, he bought a UTI directional driller, his company’s first piece of equipment. “Within a month’s time, the company had landed its first contract in excess of $1 million,” the company states.

Turner began the company with the intention of completing challenging projects. “Within five years, [the company] had drilled more than a thousand miles underground for projects between New Jersey, Illinois, Alabama and Massachusetts,” it says. “Today, [Robert Turner’s] assertive philosophy continues to be an instrumental factor for expanding the business’s capabilities and differentiating Turner from the competition.”

Turner Underground is a modestly sized firm, but it has broad capabilities. “We run a tight ship and continually investigate new technologies for better, faster [and] more effective ways for achieving the results customers have come to rely on from us,” the firm says. “We don’t shy away from challenging work at Turner, we pursue it.” 

A Strong Rival

Turner Underground offers directional and hammer drilling, pipe bursting and auger boring. “We tunnel under buildings, roadways, rivers and wetlands, bore through bedrocks, and drill for long-line runs upwards of 80 miles,” it says.

“Our capabilities keep pace with and often rival those of our largest competitors,” it says. “Today, Turner stands poised to take its drilling capabilities to the next level which will result in even longer drilling runs, larger diameter bores and broader specialized capabilities.”

A key factor to staying competitive is its equipment. “Turner management has never been timid about investing in the machinery, tools and vehicles necessary for getting the job done,” the company says.

“We research and stay up-to-speed on industry trends and technological advancements to make purchases, which best position our company for current and future business,” it says. “Every piece of equipment we bring to a job site is owned and maintained by us and many of our rigs have been customized to specifications unique to our workflow requirements and processes.”

Success Stories

Turner Underground’s project portfolio includes work for general contractors and specialty contractors, as well as major gas companies in New York State. “We are known for the scope of drilling services we provide, and a long list of project successes,” it says. “Customer referrals continue to be a primary aspect of company growth.”

The company has experience drilling at electrical construction and natural gas transmission/distribution projects. “Additionally, we’ve worked at numerous wind farms and bored thousands of miles of installations for technology and communications customers, including extensive fiber optics applications,” it says.

Advocate for Safety

Turner Underground says its clients can be confident that it is an advocate for safety. “Turner’s zero-accident program has yielded an 11-year accident-free record and earned us the lowest workers’ comp experience modification rating available,” it says.

The company is 10-hour OSHA certified and maintains an OSHA logbook. “On location, Turner develops and implements an online safety assessment plan and incorporates any unique job site protocols into our own safety [regimen],” it says. “Our foreman and tradesmen attend daily project tailgate meetings and take part in all necessary job site training and safety programs.”