Horizontal Directional Drilling | Auger Boring | Hydro Excavating | Underground Utility Installation | Trenchless Excavating
Lancaster Horizontal Drilling & Boring Services
When it comes to drilling, auger boring, and hydroexcavating, L&N Zimmerman has been serving Lancaster with care since 2000.
Trenchless Utility Installation in Lancaster, PA: Done Right the First Time
Lancaster County keeps crews busy. Between the agricultural crossings out in the townships, the older utility corridors running through the city, and the steady wave of residential and commercial development in places like Manheim Township and East Hempfield, underground utility work here covers a lot of ground — literally.
That’s where horizontal directional drilling, auger boring, and hydro excavation earn their keep. Instead of ripping open finished driveways, cutting across active roads, or disturbing landscaping that took years to establish, our crews bore beneath the surface with equipment matched to the job.
L&N Zimmerman is based in Myerstown, which puts Lancaster County squarely in our backyard. We know the soil conditions, the township permit processes, and the kinds of projects that come up here regularly. Whether it’s a short bore under a farm lane in Strasburg or a longer utility crossing on a commercial site in Lititz, we bring the same level of preparation and field experience every time.
Call today to schedule a free consultation and estimate.
What Our Customers Are Saying
Why Lancaster County Contractors and Townships Work With L&N Zimmerman
Horizontal boring without the surface damage
Water lines, gas lines, electric conduit, fiber, and sewer can all be installed beneath driveways, roads, sidewalks, and finished properties without opening a trench. That means lower restoration costs and less disruption to everyone around the job site.
Local knowledge, not guesswork
We're based in Lebanon County, right on Lancaster's doorstep. We understand the region's soil variability, from the clay-heavy ground near the Susquehanna to the rocky conditions further east, and we plan bores accordingly.
Hydro excavation for safe utility daylighting
Before any bore begins, we can use pressurized water and vacuum to safely expose existing utilities. In older Lancaster city corridors and established townships alike, knowing exactly where buried lines sit before drilling starts is worth every minute.
A reliable subcontractor for excavating and utility crews
Lancaster County has no shortage of active excavators, plumbers, and utility contractors. When they need a boring sub who shows up prepared, communicates clearly, and keeps the project on schedule, they call us.
Experience across agricultural, residential, and commercial sites
From running propane and water lines beneath farm lanes in the southern end of the county to commercial utility crossings near Route 283, our crew has handled the range of what Lancaster County throws at a boring contractor.
We Make Buried Utilities Easy With a Trusted Team
1. Consultation About Your Project
Tell us about the situation and one of our team will come out to take a look and talk through the scope.
2. Quote and Scheduling
We quote the project, and if you're ready, we get it on the calendar at a time that makes sense for you and your team.
3. Boring Done Right
Our experienced team arrives at the designated time and works quickly, safely, and efficiently to get your boring or horizontal drilling done well.
Three Services. One Trenchless Solution for Lancaster County Underground Utility Work
Most boring projects or horizontal drilling in Lancaster County draw on some combination of these three methods. Understanding what each one does — and when it’s the right call — is the difference between a project that goes smoothly and one that doesn’t.
Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD)
HDD is the method of choice when a utility line needs to travel a meaningful distance underground, navigate around an obstacle, or cross beneath terrain that can’t be disturbed. A small pilot hole is drilled along a guided underground path, then widened and used to pull the utility line through. Water lines, gas lines, electric conduit, fiber optic cable – all go in without a trench above them. For Lancaster County’s active construction corridors and its mix of roads, streams, and developed properties, directional drilling is one of the most versatile tools we carry.
Auger Boring (Jack and Bore)
When the crossing is straight and the installation requires a steel casing — beneath a road, railroad, or driveway — auger boring is typically the most controlled and cost-effective approach. A rotating auger head cuts through soil while casing pipe is simultaneously jacked forward. Spoil is carried back out through the casing. It’s a reliable method for gravity sewer installations, larger diameter pipes, and any crossing where ground settlement cannot be tolerated. Lancaster County municipalities and road authorities frequently specify auger boring for their road crossings for exactly this reason.
Hydro Excavation
Before a bore begins on a site with existing utilities nearby, hydro excavation is a good way to find out exactly what’s there and exactly where. High-pressure water breaks up soil, and a vacuum system removes the slurry, exposing buried lines cleanly without any mechanical contact. It’s non-destructive by design. In Lancaster city’s older service areas, and across the county’s mixed-infrastructure townships, this step is often what prevents a straightforward boring job from turning into an emergency repair.
Used together, these three services cover everything from pre-bore utility verification to final line installation.
Ready to Get Underground Utilities Installed Without the Mess? Let's Talk.
If you’re a contractor, property owner, or municipality with a crossing that needs to happen cleanly and on schedule, L&N Zimmerman is the call. We’ve built our reputation across central and eastern Pennsylvania by doing trenchless utility work the right way — correct method, right equipment, no shortcuts.
Tell us about your Lancaster County project today. We’ll come back with a straight answer and a price you can plan around.
Serving Lancaster City and Lancaster County
We provide directional drilling, auger boring, and hydro excavation services services throughout Lancaster County, PA. Our crews regularly work in Lancaster city and across surrounding communities including Manheim Township, East Hempfield, West Hempfield, Lititz, Ephrata, Mount Joy, Elizabethtown, Columbia, Millersville, Strasburg, Quarryville, and Mountville. County.
Lancaster City (17601, 17602, 17603) – Dense, aging infrastructure and tight access — directional drilling and hydro excavation are the practical choice for most utility work inside the city.
Manheim Township & the Hempfields (17601, 17543, 17552) – Some of the county’s busiest construction corridors. Boring under driveways, parking lots, and road crossings is steady, ongoing work for our crews here.
Lititz, Ephrata & Northern Lancaster County (17522, 17543) – A mix of growing residential neighborhoods and working agricultural land — projects range from short residential bores to longer open-ground utility runs.
Strasburg, Quarryville & Southern Lancaster County (17566, 17579) – Farm lanes, propane lines, water service, and municipal road crossings where auger boring and HDD regularly work together on the same job.
Local Resources
Lancaster County Planning Commission
Land development guidance, GIS mapping, and planning resources for projects across Lancaster County townships and boroughs.
City of Lancaster — Permits & Inspections
Right-of-way permits, utility work permits, and inspection requirements for projects within Lancaster city limits.
PA One Call (Call Before You Dig)
Pennsylvania’s statewide system for locating underground utilities before excavation or boring begins.