Want to tunnel under a sidewalk, looking for options

[arcas]

I've finally gotten round to adding a drip irrigation zone to my sprinkler system and I need to tunnel under the front sidewalk. The drip feeder tube is about 0.75" diameter but since I want to eventually redo the landscape lighting, I'm thinking about running 1" PVC under the sidewalk as a sort of conduit. That way I can run the drip feeder tube through it now and fish the lighting power cable through it later without having to re-dig.

I made a first tunnel attempt today using the PVC+water boring trick (dig a short trench on one side of the walk, attach a jet nozzle to a length of PVC pipe, hook up a garden hose to the other end and let the water do the boring). That worked less than well. In fact, it was a complete failure. Too many tree roots and rocks, I guess. Hit a dead-end at around 10" after several tries and gave up.

If I were just running the lighting power cable, I'd just use a length of rebar and use a sledgehammer to drive it under. But since I need at least 1" diameter, that probably won't work.

I'm thinking about rigging up some sort of auger and attaching it to either a 1/2" drill or an electric imact wrench (the kind you use to remove lug nuts). The shaft could be 1/2" pipe or rod (1/4" or 3/8" rod might work, too, and it'd be more flexible). I'm having trouble coming up with something to attach to the shaft to act as the bit though. Any suggestions?

 

[gistech1978]

the area on the otherside of the sidewalk isnt your property.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Just find out how Colonel Hogan dug all his tunnels. If he could get a network that size underneath Stalag 13, your sidewalk shouldn't be a problem.

ZV

 

[Zim Hosein]

Originally posted by: arcas
I've finally gotten round to adding a drip irrigation zone to my sprinkler system and I need to tunnel under the front sidewalk. The drip feeder tube is about 0.75" diameter but since I want to eventually redo the landscape lighting, I'm thinking about running 1" PVC under the sidewalk as a sort of conduit. That way I can run the drip feeder tube through it now and fish the lighting power cable through it later without having to re-dig.

I made a first tunnel attempt today using the PVC+water boring trick (dig a short trench on one side of the walk, attach a jet nozzle to a length of PVC pipe, hook up a garden hose to the other end and let the water do the boring). That worked less than well. In fact, it was a complete failure. Too many tree roots and rocks, I guess. Hit a dead-end at around 10" after several tries and gave up.

If I were just running the lighting power cable, I'd just use a length of rebar and use a sledgehammer to drive it under. But since I need at least 1" diameter, that probably won't work.

I'm thinking about rigging up some sort of auger and attaching it to either a 1/2" drill or an electric imact wrench (the kind you use to remove lug nuts). The shaft could be 1/2" pipe or rod (1/4" or 3/8" rod might work, too, and it'd be more flexible). I'm having trouble coming up with something to attach to the shaft to act as the bit though. Any suggestions?

If I were you, I'd visit my local home improvement store arcas

 

[Sphexi]

Not sure you're allowed to tunnel under sidewalks without permission? Is it part of your property, or city property?

I don't think your original idea was all bad, just need a bit more power.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: gistech1978
the area on the otherside of the sidewalk isnt your property.

The fvck it's not.

Unless the city comes by and mows it, pays for all the landscaping, and all the maintenance on it, it's his property. He is obligated to allow the city _access_ to that portion of his property at any time, but it is most definitely _not_ city property.

ZV

EDIT: Also, you're assuming that it's a city sidewalk. Where I grew up there are many, many people who have a U-shaped driveway with a 50-100 foot sidewalk leading to their front door. He may very well simply have a sidewalk like that.

 

[Sphexi]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: gistech1978
the area on the otherside of the sidewalk isnt your property.

The fvck it's not.

Unless the city comes by and mows it, pays for all the landscaping, and all the maintenance on it, it's his property. He is obligated to allow the city _access_ to that portion of his property at any time, but it is most definitely _not_ city property.

ZV

EDIT: Also, you're assuming that it's a city sidewalk. Where I grew up there are many, many people who have a U-shaped driveway with a 50-100 foot sidewalk leading to their front door. He may very well simply have a sidewalk like that.

Hence why I asked if it was his or the city's

 

[gistech1978]

Originally posted by: Sphexi

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: gistech1978
the area on the otherside of the sidewalk isnt your property.

The fvck it's not.

Unless the city comes by and mows it, pays for all the landscaping, and all the maintenance on it, it's his property. He is obligated to allow the city _access_ to that portion of his property at any time, but it is most definitely _not_ city property.

ZV

EDIT: Also, you're assuming that it's a city sidewalk. Where I grew up there are many, many people who have a U-shaped driveway with a 50-100 foot sidewalk leading to their front door. He may very well simply have a sidewalk like that.

Hence why I asked if it was his or the city's

try and landscape the easement.
when the city comes and rips out your flowerbeds or cuts down a tree to repair a sewer or water main break, then you'll see who's property it really is.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: gistech1978
try and landscape the easement.
when the city comes and rips out your flowerbeds or cuts down a tree to repair a sewer or water main break, then you'll see who's property it really is.

Not sure where you grew up, but back home if the city ripped it out, they paid to replace it. City paid us to re-seed our grass and re-plant the flowers when they put in the new sewer line.

ZV

EDIT: Also, it's "try to", not "try and".

 

[GeekDrew]

Originally posted by: gistech1978

Originally posted by: Sphexi

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: gistech1978
the area on the otherside of the sidewalk isnt your property.

The fvck it's not.

Unless the city comes by and mows it, pays for all the landscaping, and all the maintenance on it, it's his property. He is obligated to allow the city _access_ to that portion of his property at any time, but it is most definitely _not_ city property.

ZV

EDIT: Also, you're assuming that it's a city sidewalk. Where I grew up there are many, many people who have a U-shaped driveway with a 50-100 foot sidewalk leading to their front door. He may very well simply have a sidewalk like that.

Hence why I asked if it was his or the city's

try and landscape the easement.
when the city comes and rips out your flowerbeds or cuts down a tree to repair a sewer or water main break, then you'll see who's property it really is.

In much the same way you find out "who's property" the entire lawn is, when the city has an electric street light fail, and they trench straight through your entire lawn (to replace the power line running to it), without respect for anything in the way...

 

[crypticlogin]

Maybe he means front sidewalk as in the sidewalk that runs from the street to his front door???

Besides, I saw a demo at Home Depot for this auger (like you're thinking) so it's out there. The best way to describe it was an oversize toilet snake designed for earth.

 

[Rastus]

The property on the other side of the sidewalk is the easment. That is your property, but underground utilities are buried there.

Call the utility locator before you do it.

Dig a hole on each side of the sidewalk and drive a piece of pipe with a sledgehammer between them and you will have a tunnel to put your irrigation pipe in it. I've seen it done many times.

 

[Chompman]

If the sidewalk is a public sidewalk then you better hope you don't get caught doing it or you don't cause damage to it otherwise you will be facing some nice fee's.

 

[Antisocial Virge]

Its an easement. Same as along the sides of some peoples houses and along the back. Put a fence on the easement and see what the utilities do if they need to dig it up. Seen it happen alot since I used to work as a locator.

Edit: Be careful. The gas line is buried there often. Electric usually is in the back.