Underground utility locating in Montreal for alleys, yards and pools

Green alleys and backyards, a crowded subsurface

Green alleys are part of the Montreal landscape. The City counted 350 of them in 2019 (1), and some boroughs have many more than others, such as Le Plateau-Mont-Royal, which has 120 (2). Creating one often involves excavating flower beds or planting pits directly in the asphalt.

But an alley is also a utility corridor. It contains power cables running to garages, telecommunication conduits, old drains and service connections that nobody documented. Info-Excavation locates its members' networks up to the property line, but private installations remain the responsibility of the owner or the alley committee.

What we locate before your work

• Electrical cables running to a garage, a shed or yard lighting
• Telecom conduits and coaxial cables buried along fences
• Drains, catch basins and old storm sewer lines
• Buried structures, such as an old foundation or a slab under the lawn

An in-ground pool in a Montreal backyard

An in-ground pool requires deep excavation over a limited area, often a few metres from the foundations and neighbouring properties. The survey shows what crosses the excavation area and at what depth. In several areas, clay or bedrock near the surface affects the ground-penetrating radar reading; the report clearly identifies the zones where uncertainty is greater and where hand excavation is recommended.

Frequently asked questions

Can an alley committee request the survey? Yes. We work for committees, boroughs and landscaping contractors. Include the length of the alley and the areas to be excavated in your request.

How long does a backyard survey take? A residential yard can generally be covered in a few hours. The duration depends on the area, the obstacles (fences, sheds) and the number of utilities present.