Underground Connections
Underground Connections LLC is a Virginia-based underground utility construction firm founded in 2021 that uses trenchless Horizontal Directional Drilling and GPR mapping to install water, sewer, electrical, fiber, and gas infrastructure for government, military, municipal, and commercial clients across the Eastern US.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- HeadquartersOnancock, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Underground Connections does
Underground Connections LLC is a private, Virginia-based underground utility construction firm founded in 2021 by Ben Nowlan and headquartered in Onancock, with a secondary office in Eastville. The company specializes in trenchless installation methods — primarily Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD), directional drilling, and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) mapping — to install water, sewer, electrical, fiber optic, gas, and communication networks with minimal surface disruption. Its service portfolio spans directional drilling, water and sewer line installation, electrical and communication infrastructure, fiber optic and cable installation, gas and utility line boring, trenching and excavation, repair and maintenance, and site consultation and planning. The firm has executed complex projects in environmentally sensitive terrain, including a sewer force main through a Wachapreague swamp and a 300-foot ductbank completed in 2.5 days versus a 2-week estimate.
The company's revenue model is project-based professional services: quotes are bid-specific with no publicly disclosed pricing, and contracts are won through direct enterprise outreach, competitive bidding, and RFP responses. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales targeting government agencies, military installations, municipalities, and commercial clients — primarily across Virginia and Maryland's Eastern Shore, with isolated out-of-region federal work in Texas and Mississippi. Customer concentration is heavily skewed to public sector and military anchors, including NASA (Wallops and Langley), multiple Navy and Air Force installations, NATO Joint Force Command, Virginia American Water, Dominion Energy, and towns such as Chincoteague and Cape Charles.
Underground Connections is owner-operated (Allie Nowlan as President, Ben Nowlan as Vice President), supplemented by a Director of Operations, Executive Administrator, and Office Manager. It holds CERC, ISN, and SWAM certifications that support government and military contract eligibility. In 2025 the firm expanded beyond HDD into civil and site development, opened its second office, and adopted a BuildWitt-powered training platform with CDL training for staff, signaling operational scaling across product, geography, and workforce.
Underground Connections firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Underground Connections
- Legal name
- Underground Connections LLC
- Website
- https://underground-connections.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Underground Connections LLC is a Virginia-based underground utility construction firm founded in 2021 that uses trenchless Horizontal Directional Drilling and GPR mapping to install water, sewer, electrical, fiber, and gas infrastructure for government, military, municipal, and commercial clients across the Eastern US.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Underground Connections industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Underground Utility Construction Services
- NAICS
- Water and Sewer Line and Related Structures Construction (23711), Power and Communication Line and Related Structures Construction (237130), Oil and Gas Pipeline and Related Structures Construction (23712)
- SIC
- Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Transmission Line Construction (Overhead & Underground) (IMAFAHAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Cable Installation & Construction Services (trenching, duct banks, HDD, pulling, cable laying) (EUADADAI), Underground Duct, Conduit & Manhole/Vault Construction (Telecom Civils) (IMAFAIAK), Underground transmission & distribution cable EPC (civil + cable install) (EUADAKAB)
Keywords
Where Underground Connections is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Onancock
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Underground Connections business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Infrastructure Installation Services: Project-based professional services for underground utility installation including directional drilling, water/sewer line installation, fiber optic installation, gas line boring, and trenching/excavation. Revenue generated through project contracts with government, municipal, and commercial clients.
- Repair and Maintenance Services: Professional repair services for underground utility damage, leaks, or wear ensuring continued functionality and performance.
- Site Consultation and Planning: Consulting services including utility mapping, feasibility studies, and compliance requirements to optimize underground installations.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Underground Connections product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Underground Connections LLC is an underground utility construction contractor that installs, repairs, and maintains water, sewer, electrical, fiber optic, gas, and communication networks using trenchless methods such as Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) and GPR mapping. Its portfolio spans directional drilling, water/sewer line installation, electrical and communication infrastructure, fiber optic and cable placement, gas and utility line boring, trenching and excavation, repair and maintenance, and site consultation and planning. The firm primarily serves federal, state, and local government agencies, military installations, municipalities, and commercial clients across Virginia and the Delmarva Peninsula.
Product overview
Underground Connections LLC operates as a unified service-based business offering a comprehensive suite of underground utility construction services. The core portfolio centers on four main service pillars: Directional Drilling (HDD), Water and Sewer Line Installation, Electrical and Communication Infrastructure, and Trenchless Technology. These services are supported by complementary offerings including Fiber Optic and Cable Installation, Gas and Utility Line Boring, Trenching and Excavation, Repair and Maintenance, and Site Consultation and Planning. The company specializes in trenchless solutions that minimize surface disruption while delivering durable infrastructure for water, sewer, electrical, fiber optics, and gas utilities across residential, commercial, and municipal projects.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Directional Drilling
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 1.5 miles of sewer mains installed successfully on Chincoteague Island project
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Underground Connections
Customer profileNamed customers26 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Underground Connections technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Underground Connections partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Ditch Witch of VirginiaminorEquipment vendor and partner that helped create the veteran tribute decal for Underground Connections' horizontal directional drilling fleet. Ditch Witch provides the drilling equipment used by the company.
- AGWrapsminorGraphics and wraps company that helped design and create the special decal honoring veterans on Underground Connections' HDD fleet.
- BuildWitt TrainingcoreTraining partner providing Underground Connections' new online training platform. The platform offers customizable learning including tool descriptions, professional development, personal finance, health and fitness, and industry-specific knowledge. Launched with a 50-day training program covering effective communication, excavation techniques, utility locating, health and safety.
- Gilco Transport ServicesminorCDL driver training partner providing opportunity for four Underground Connections employees to receive CDL driver training through the company's two-day conference.
- Premier Print CominorPrint partner that provided custom summer tank tops for Underground Connections team members at the two-day conference event.
- Wilder Workspace SolutionsminorWebsite developer for Underground Connections. Built and maintains the company website at underground-connections.com.
- Eastern Shore Signs, LLCminorSign company that created the new office sign for Underground Connections' Onancock office location.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Underground Connections competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Quanta Services Inc. Largest pure-play utility infrastructure construction firm in North America, with extensive electric, gas, and communications line construction capabilities. Overlaps with Underground Connections on power, fiber, and pipeline installation projects but at national scale and with significant balance-sheet resources.
- Primoris Services Corporation: National infrastructure construction contractor with utility, pipeline, and civil segments. Comparable T&D and underground utility installation work, especially in pipeline and electrical services, though diversified across energy and renewables.
- MasTec Inc. Large national infrastructure construction services company with a significant utility T&D and communications construction segment. Competes for the same government, military, and utility contracts but operates at far greater scale and across all of North America.
Direct peers
- Laney Group Inc. Specialty trenchless construction and HDD contractor with deep experience in pipeline and utility installation. Highly comparable technology base and project delivery model to Underground Connections.
- Cleary Construction Inc. Virginia-based site utility and heavy civil contractor serving municipal and commercial clients across the Mid-Atlantic. Comparable regional footprint, similar mix of water/sewer, electrical ductbank, and site utility work, and competes for the same municipal RFPs as Underground Connections.
- Southeast Connections LLC: Mid-Atlantic/Southeast utility contractor specializing in natural gas distribution, water/sewer, and HDD-based underground utility installation. Closely comparable service mix and target customer base (municipalities, utilities, gas LDCs), with overlapping geographic reach.
- Mears Group Inc. National HDD and horizontal directional drilling contractor specializing in pipeline and utility installation for gas, electric, and telecom. Comparable trenchless technology stack and project-based professional services model; larger scale but same core delivery method.
- Apex Utilities LLC: Mid-Atlantic underground utility contractor providing water, sewer, gas, and telecommunications installation. Comparable customer mix (municipalities and utilities) and trenchless capabilities overlap directly with Underground Connections' service portfolio.
Emerging players
- Boring & Tunneling Company of America: Trenchless underground construction specialist focused on tunneling and HDD for utility and infrastructure clients. Comparable delivery method and target markets, though with a heavier bias toward larger-diameter tunnel work.
Others
- Ditch Witch (The Charles Machine Works): Manufacturer of HDD rigs, trenchers, and underground construction equipment, including the specific drill fleet used by Underground Connections. Functions as the primary equipment supplier to the company's industry rather than a direct competitor.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Underground Connections social profiles
Digital presenceUnderground Connections financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Underground Connections leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Underground Connections funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Underground Connections M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Underground Connections
What does Underground Connections do?
Underground Connections LLC is an underground utility construction contractor that installs, repairs, and maintains water, sewer, electrical, fiber optic, gas, and communication networks using trenchless methods such as Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) and GPR mapping. Its portfolio spans directional drilling, water/sewer line installation, electrical and communication infrastructure, fiber optic and cable placement, gas and utility line boring, trenching and excavation, repair and maintenance, and site consultation and planning. The firm primarily serves federal, state, and local government agencies, military installations, municipalities, and commercial clients across Virginia and the Delmarva Peninsula.
Is Underground Connections a public or private company?
Underground Connections is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Underground Connections founded?
Underground Connections was founded in 2021. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Underground Connections based?
Underground Connections is headquartered in Onancock, United States, in the North America region.
How does Underground Connections make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Infrastructure Installation Services are the primary driver. The others are repair and Maintenance Services and site Consultation and Planning.
Who are Underground Connections's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Quanta Services Inc., Primoris Services Corporation and MasTec Inc.. Direct peers are Laney Group Inc., Cleary Construction Inc., Southeast Connections LLC, Mears Group Inc. and Apex Utilities LLC. Boring & Tunneling Company of America is listed as an emerging player. Ditch Witch (The Charles Machine Works) is listed as an others.
Does Underground Connections have an API?
No public API is recorded for Underground Connections.
What industry is Underground Connections in?
Underground Connections's product category is Underground Utility Construction Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAFAHAA, Transmission Line Construction (Overhead & Underground), with a secondary code of EUADADAI, Cable Installation & Construction Services (trenching, duct banks, HDD, pulling, cable laying). Its NAICS code is 23711 and its SIC code is 1623.