We had decided to try to punch a hole through below the road, so that we would not have to open and repair the surface. The mobile punching unit is simply an air compressor attached to a steel "bullet" which is 3" wide and about 3' long. It is shaped just like a big bullet, with the pipe attached to the rear. This has a hammer action cylinder inside it, which drives it through the ground. To reverse the motion you simply twist the pipe.

We tried to get across from one side, but kept hitting rock, so we tried it from the other side. This time it just took off into the ground, but it stopped about half way across the road. After about 10 minutes stationary it took off again until it got to about 3' from the other side, and it stopped. And it stayed stopped. We eventually gave up, it hit a stone which was too big to break. We put the conduit through as far as it would go and left it there, hoping we could find it with a digger, and only have to dig part way across the road.

In came the petrol cutter and the JCB to open the road. And very quickly the digger had opened the road and found the other end of the conduit pipe. This was a delicate operation - we had to be careful not to go near the storm water pipe, or the mains water pipe. Thankfully they are all still in tact.

We installed the water pipe, ready for connection, and also pulled through a second pipe to use for spring water if required. While the digger was there we buryed the BT cable which had to be fed up to the nearest pole. [pics]