A duct bank is a set of electrical conduits cast inside a concrete envelope and buried, so that power and communication cables can be pulled in later without digging again. It is a simple idea with a demanding execution: the conduits must stay straight, spaced and sealed while heavy concrete flows around them, and the finished run has to line up with manholes, pull boxes and building penetrations that may be hundreds of feet apart.
Midland owners ask for duct banks because the loads are large and the downtime is expensive. A hospital feeder, a plant substation connection or a campus loop cannot be dug up casually after the fact. Concrete Contractors of Midland coordinates the concrete encasement and trade partners for trenching, conduit installation, cable pulling and utility connections.
We keep one pour calendar for the duct bank, the electrical contractor and the utility, so a conduit inspection is not postponed because the concrete truck is already on the road. The duct bank is one piece of broader site utilities work, and we sequence it with the sewer, water and fire lines that cross its path.
Concrete we place and trades we coordinate
Concrete trade partners place and consolidate the concrete around the conduit, set reinforcing where the design calls for it and finish the top surface. They also build the pull box pads and manhole collars along the route. Placement is done in lifts so the conduit does not float, and vibration is applied with care so voids do not form beneath the pipes.
Trade partners excavate, set conduit and spacers, make up joints and later pull cable. We coordinate those groups with the engineer and the utility, and we do not present ourselves as the electrical contractor or the trencher. Our responsibility is the concrete and the sequence that surrounds it.
Work that shares the trench
Duct banks cross other utilities, so we coordinate with conduit and fiber trenching where lighter communication lines run alongside, and with utility relocation when an existing line must move before the bank can be built. Where drawings are uncertain, potholing and locating comes before the first cut.
The finished corridor is restored with paving, curbs or flatwork, which concrete trade partners also place. Keeping that work under one schedule means the trench is never left open longer than the inspections require.
What moves the price of a duct bank
Length and depth drive the cost, but so do the number of conduits, the concrete volume and the amount of reinforcing. Hard ground slows trenching, and congested crossings take extra time. Pull boxes and manholes add structure work that is priced separately from the run itself.
Owners can reduce risk by locking down the route early and by agreeing on the number of spare conduits before the design is final. Adding a spare during construction is far cheaper than adding one later. We provide a line-item estimate so those choices are visible, and we show how much of the total is concrete, steel, structures and restoration, so an owner reviewing the bid can tell where a change in the design would actually save money.
Working near energized lines
Energized lines may sit close to the trench. Locates and potholing identify them, and the utility owner sets the clearance rules. We follow those rules, keep equipment outside the limits and brief everyone before work begins. If a line is closer than expected, work stops in that area until the owner and engineer agree on a plan.
Cable-pull day brings its own hazards, including heavy reels and tensioned cable. Our role is to have the pull boxes finished, cured and clean so the electrical crew can work safely and without interference from other trades.
From route walk to final pour
We walk the route with the engineer and the electrical contractor, checking alignment, depth and obstacles. Then we build the sequence: trench, bedding, spacers, conduit, reinforcing, inspection, pour and backfill. Each step has an inspection and a name beside it, and we write down who is responsible for calling the inspector.
On pour day the conduit is checked once more, tied down against flotation and capped to keep concrete and debris out. After the pour we verify the encasement at the access points and note the as-built route for the owner's records, with depth and offset measurements that the next contractor can trust.
Specifications and approvals
Duct banks answer to the project specification, the utility's construction standards and the adopted electrical code. Color-tinted concrete or a warning tape above the bank is common, and the engineer sets the cover depth. The utility often inspects before backfill and again before energizing.
Permits depend on whether the work is private or within the right-of-way. We ask the local permit office what is needed and schedule inspections accordingly, so the calendar reflects real lead times.
Where the demand comes from
Midland Memorial Hospital began a $156 million master plan project in 2024 that includes a four-story professional office building and demolition of the oldest part of the hospital slated for 2026. Projects of that kind involve new feeders and temporary power, and they depend on duct banks that last through the whole construction period. See our hospital page for more.
Industrial growth also drives demand. Processing plants and compressor stations need dependable power across large sites, and the routes often cross lease roads and pipelines. Owners in the utilities and energy field ask us for crossing details that protect both the bank and the road above it.
Caliche, heat and route choices
Caliche, a calcium carbonate cemented soil layer, forms where annual rainfall is below about 26 inches, and Midland's normal is 13.51 inches. It is widely used as road base and performs poorly when wet. For a duct bank, that means trench walls may stand well when dry and slump when soaked, and rock-capable equipment may be needed to cut it.
Summer heat affects placement. We schedule early pours, control mix temperature and protect the surface during cure. On cold mornings we shield the concrete from freezing. We flag both in the calendar so the electrical contractor can plan cable pulls accordingly. Long runs reached only by a narrow lease road are often placed by pumping the concrete from one setup, which keeps trucks off soft ground beside the trench and shortens the time the conduit sits exposed.
Lock in the duct bank route
Send the electrical drawings and the route plan. We will return a written sequence for trenching, conduit, inspection and encasement.
Common Questions
Why encase conduit in concrete?
Concrete protects the conduit from crushing, from future digging and from ground movement. It also holds the conduits in position so cable pulls go smoothly. Some designs use direct-buried conduit instead, and the engineer chooses between them based on load, risk and cost.
Is the concrete reinforced?
Often it is, especially under roads or where the bank is deep. The drawings state the reinforcing and any special requirements. We place the steel, check the spacing and have it inspected before the pour begins.
How are duct banks inspected?
The utility or engineer typically inspects the conduit, spacing and reinforcing before the concrete is placed, and may return before backfill. We schedule inspections ahead of time, keep records of each visit and make sure the open trench is protected until the inspector arrives.
Can a duct bank be built in sections?
Yes. Sections are separated by planned joints and tied to pull boxes. We size the pour sections to crew capacity and the traffic control plan, so a long run can proceed in stages without leaving open trench across a driveway or lease road overnight.