Site concrete is the collection of small items that decides whether a finished property works: the bollards that protect a gas meter or a storefront, the base under a light pole, the pad where the dumpster rolls, the wheel stop at the head of a stall, the footing for a gate post. None of these is large, but each one is placed after the paving crews have left or just before them, which makes them easy to miss and hard to fit into the schedule.
We set and pour bollards, light pole bases, sign footings, fence and gate post footings, dumpster enclosures and pads, equipment screens, curb stops, mailbox and bike rack footings, and small slabs for utility equipment. Our clients are general contractors closing out a site, owners adding protection to an existing building, and facility managers with a punch list of unfinished corners. We bundle the items into one mobilization when we can.
The sections below explain how we approach this work, the factors that shape cost and timing, and where we travel.
Layout first, then drill and pour
We begin with a staking pass. Each bollard, pole base or pad is located from the site plan and checked against utilities, sidewalks and door swings, since an item placed on paper can land on a sprinkler line or a conduit run in the field. We walk the layout with the owner or architect and resolve differences before drilling.
Bollards are set in drilled holes, usually with a concrete footing around a steel pipe and concrete fill inside it. We hold each pipe plumb with a brace until the concrete takes a set, trowel the top into a dome so water runs off and clean the pipe surface. Pole bases are formed or drilled, reinforced as designed and fitted with a template for the anchor bolts so the fixture lines up. Where the drawings call for crash-rated installation, we follow the engineered detail exactly and keep records of the depth, diameter and reinforcement.
Why small concrete shows up on so many Midland sites
Midland County covers 902 square miles, with Midland as county seat, and it is bordered by Martin, Glasscock, Upton, Ector, Andrews and Reagan counties. A great deal of development has spread across that land: offices, warehouses, retail pads, hotel sites and yards. Each of them eventually needs protected utilities, lighting, signs and trash areas, and each of those items needs concrete.
New employers continue to add to the pattern. In April 2025 the Midland City Council approved agreements for a radio-frequency testing laboratory at the Midland International Air and Space Port, with 50 new jobs and a $3 million investment in equipment and inventory. Facilities like that need secure perimeters, bollards at utility and entry points, and pads for support equipment. We help owners plan these items early, because they are cheaper to build with the site than after it.
What changes the price of site concrete
The main cost drivers are quantity, access and finish. Ten bollards in a row cost less per unit than ten scattered across a site, because the crew drills, sets and pours in one pass. Access matters, since a drilling rig that cannot reach a corner means hand digging. Finish matters too, since decorative or colored concrete costs more than a plain broom surface.
Material choices contribute. Steel pipe size and wall thickness, galvanizing or paint, removable or fixed sockets and covers all change the price. We list each item in the proposal, along with a unit price for adding or removing bollards, so an owner can adjust the scope without a new bid, and we point out where a small change in layout would save a drilling pass. Mobilization is shown separately, and bundling items reduces it.
Fitting small items into a large schedule
Small items need a slot. The best moment is before final paving, when the area is open and trucks can reach it, but pipe and fixtures must be on hand. We confirm lead times for steel pipe, covers, sockets and light pole bases early, because a late delivery of one fixture can hold up a whole punch list.
On existing properties, we work around business hours. Entrances and parking lots are busy, so we phase work to keep access open, and we post notices where lanes close. Concrete cures overnight to carry foot traffic in a day, and we mark the area so vehicles stay clear of fresh pavement. We provide a short schedule before we mobilize, with each location and the day we plan to work there.
Items we handle
The scope can include saw-cutting existing concrete or asphalt for a footing, drilling holes, setting pipe or sleeves, installing reinforcing, placing concrete, finishing and cleaning. We also pour light pole bases, equipment pads for small mechanical units, concrete aprons at dumpsters and wheel stops. For larger equipment, the equipment pad trade partner takes over.
Where a site includes sidewalks and flatwork, bollards and bases are coordinated with the paving to avoid cutting fresh concrete. Curb stops and wheel stops align with parking lot concrete layouts, and trash enclosure slabs integrate with the drive apron. When a site owner asks for protection around a retail center entrance, we propose a pattern that guards the building without blocking accessible routes.
Where we mobilize
We mobilize crews to Midland, Odessa and the communities along I-20 and the nearby highways. The George H. O'Brien, Jr. VA Medical Center in Big Spring is the primary facility for the West Texas VA Health Care System, and Howard College and Scenic Mountain Medical Center are also in the city. Institutional sites like those depend on protected utilities and clear, safe pavement edges, and many receive bollard and site concrete work during upgrades. Concrete trade partners reach Big Spring along the interstate for that kind of upgrade.
Because items are small, travel matters to cost. We bring the drill rig, a small concrete supply and finishers on the same day, and we group nearby jobs. Owners with several properties often ask us to cover all of them in one trip, which lowers the cost for each. For commercial developers closing out a phase, a single visit can clear the site's whole list.
Send the site plan
Send the site plan, a list of locations and any product details. We will walk the site, confirm utilities and return a price by item with a bundled mobilization.
Common Questions
What depth does a bollard footing need?
Depth follows the design and what the post must resist. A decorative bollard needs less than one meant to stop a vehicle. We follow the drawing or the engineer's detail, and we keep records of depth and diameter.
Is it possible to add bollards beside a finished entrance?
Yes. First we locate utilities, saw cut the pavement, drill, set the pipe, pour the footing and patch the surface. We also coordinate with the owner so entries remain accessible during the work.
Can you install removable bollards?
Yes, using a set socket and a cover or cap. The socket is cast in concrete at the right depth, and we test the removable post for fit before leaving.
What is the lead time on pipe and fixtures?
It varies by item. Standard steel pipe is easy to source, while custom covers, decorative bases and some light pole bases take longer. We check availability as soon as the scope is clear.