Replies

1. 
   fdampier5 | May 22, 2004 04:16am | #1

   Not here in Orono Minnesota, that's where most of mine  are.

     water and sewer both are under driveway.  electricity is now in the ground near my apple trees, less than 2 feet down (frost is at 50 inches here). phone is about six inches buried around the north side of the house curving around the front and down the south side..

    sprinklers are trunked in various spots in the lawn..

   
   

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   Edited 5/21/2004 10:45 pm ET by FDAMPIER5

2. 
   WayneL5 | May 22, 2004 04:37am | #2

   I don't know about piping, nor codes everywhere, of course, but generally electric service may go under paving.  The NEC specifies a minimum depth.  You will also need to protect the portion of the wiring that's under pavement with rigid conduit, even if the wiring is rated for direct burial.  Check the code or with your local inspector for specifics.

1. 
   barmil | May 22, 2004 04:43am | #4

   Electrical, cable, gas, and telephone all under the concrete alley behind me to my house. Only loser may be cable, as the others have history that doesn't warrant upgrade potential.

1. 
   WayneL5 | May 22, 2004 04:52am | #6

   I guess I didn't think to say, but in my home, built in 1999/2000, not only the electric service, but the telephone and cable go under the driveway.  In a climate with a 40" frost depth.  The services were inspected by their respective utilities, and by both an electrical inspector and a code enforcement officer, before covering, so I'm certain they were all proper in my jurisdiction.

   I chose to install the cable TV service in PVC conduit in case someday someone wants to pull it and put in optical fiber or something.

   I read just today that Corning, the world's largest manufacturer of optical fiber, has announced an agreement with a very large home builder to do state of the art fiber to the home (FTTH) in new construction.  The first homes under this program will be built in San Francisco.

3. 
   sawdustmaker | May 22, 2004 04:41am | #3

   Unless space is an issue, I wouldn't do it. Any future repairs means tearing up your driveway. In addition, unless they are buried 2' or more under the drive, you run the risk of frost heave and cracking. This is especially true with an asphalt driveway.

4. 
   4Lorn2 | May 22, 2004 04:44am | #5

   Absolutely utilities can go under a driveway. They are commonly under streets. Streets exposed to far heavier, both in terms of numbers and weight, traffic. As stated above the key is proper protection both in terms of depth and materials.

   He is also correct that the best place to find out what depths are required in your area is to contact a contractor who does the work or the local codes department. 

5. 
   Snort | May 22, 2004 05:16am | #7

   If you've got drive in before the power is run, power company is going to trench right down the middle of it, but at the proper depth, course<G>

   Don't worry, we can fix that later!

6. 
   remodelerdw | May 22, 2004 07:00am | #8

   Discussed in the past few months here as far as structural backfill for utility trenches under drives, etc.

   All is right - new subdivisions have every utility main passing under the driveways, except sanitary laterals which generally are under sidewalks.

   remodeler