Construction Business Review

Tri-State Drilling
Premier Provider of Drilled Foundations

Tyler Peterson, VP, Tri-State DrillingTyler Peterson, VP
Underground foundations for electrical lines serve as the backbone of a resilient and safe electrical distribution network, protecting the delicate infrastructure from the forces of nature and human interference. However, excavating the earth, reinforcing the foundations, and seamlessly integrating them into existing infrastructure present formidable technical hurdles. Successfully building these underground structures also requires engineering ingenuity for construction teams to effectively coordinate with multiple stakeholders, including urban planners, utility companies, environmental agencies, and local communities.

Renowned for its quality, reliability, and innovation, Tri- State Drilling is a top-tier provider of drilled foundations for electrical transmission lines. Recently, it has also added a specialty foundation group to extend its services to various industries across the U.S., including transmission, distribution, renewable energy, transportation, agriculture, and general contractors.

Over 45 years, Tri-State has established a track record of successfully installing transmission line foundations in most of the 48 continental U.S., including Alaska. Its expertise and experience have led it to work as a prime foundation contractor for Xcel Energy, National Grid, Great River Energy, LG&E KU, Eversource, and many others. It is consistently chosen as a subcontractor for major line contractors in the U.S., including MasTec, IB-Abel, Par Electrical Contractors, Harlan Electric, Henkel’s & McCoy, L.E. Myers, M.J. Electric, and more.

To succeed in these diverse settings, Tri-State has developed techniques to handle everything from high water tables in caving soils to the most resilient granite, leaving behind minimal environmental impact. The firm leverages advanced tools for hard rock drilling, excelling specifically in wet hole drilling in challenging environments such as high-water table foundations, artesian areas, and swamps. It also has expertise in handling difficult access points, including working in wetlands, swamps, hilly or rough terrains, and navigating limited space in cities.The firm frequently encounters low overhead obstacles, but it is skilled at working under power and existing lines while ensuring safety and efficient operations.

During any project it undertakes, Tri-State is committed to assisting clients from the initial stage until they develop a wellbuilt foundation. These efforts are well demonstrated in a concrete client success story.

In one case, a client in the Midwest with a transmission line project chose Tri-State instead of a general contractor, thinking it would be less complicated to work with. This project involved three categories: site access, foundations, and overhead line work. The company began its work by assisting the client during the planning and budgeting phase, offering its expertise to systematically outline the project. It then split the project into two scopes: site access with foundations and overhead line work.

Our success hinges on our veteran team. Once operators join us, they become valued members of our family, often spending the rest of their careers with us. We count on them to deliver highest quality foundations in a timely fashion to the electrical transmission industry

This allowed Tri-State to establish a direct relationship with the owner, eliminating the markup associated with intermediaries and enabling direct feedback and planning communication. By focusing on the underground foundations first, it then coordinated with the overhead crews. This front-end planning approach contributed to successfully completing the project and establishing a streamlined, one-way communication channel with the owner, avoiding unnecessary layers of communication.

“Our success hinges on our veteran team. Once operators join us, they become valued members of our family, often spending the rest of their careers with us. We count on them to deliver the highest quality foundations on time to the electrical transmission industry,” says Tyler Peterson, VP of Tri-State Drilling.

The skilled crew’s professionalism at work sites and their ability to deliver desired results yield superior outcomes that transform newly acquired customers into loyal patrons who continue to partner with them.

Tri-State emphasizes industry knowledge and participates in trade shows like the ADSC conference to stay connected with industry developments. It proactively identifies future projects, such as upcoming power line installations and project stakeholders (owners, line contractors, general contractors), and establishes relationships with them in advance.

Today, Tri-State stands tall, reinforced by its reputation for success. It constantly invests in cuttingedge drilling equipment and actively explores new drilling techniques to ensure it remains at the forefront of industry advancements, ultimately helping its clients build sound foundations for their construction projects.