BROOKHAVEN, Ga. — After a gas main rupture next to a Brookhaven elementary school happened while work was being performed to install Google Fiber, Mayor John Park issued a stop work order for installations.
Channel 2′s Michael Seiden reported on the safety issues and response from the city surrounding the stop-work order.
The order came after a crew installing Google Fiber in the right-of-way on Ashford Dunwoody Road struck a gas main near Montgomery Elementary School on Dec. 13, putting the school on lockdown as emergency responders rushed to help.
The next day, Park issued the order to halt installations in Brookhaven.
It was the latest incident in a series of issues, with homeowners telling Channel 2 Action News about fiber installers hitting water lines and leaving residents without water for hours.
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On Dec. 16, a Google Fiber spokesperson said in a statement that they “take construction issues very serious and follow local guidelines during the process, including locating any existing utilities before beginning work,” and that they were working with local officials to address the most recent issue near the school.
Now, Park has released a more detailed statement on how Brookhaven will proceed regarding installations of Google Fiber in the city.
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“Last Saturday, Dec. 14, the City of Brookhaven issued a citywide stop work order for Google Fiber in response to safety concerns following the rupture of a gas main next to an elementary school during school hours.
This was not the first incident that has come up in the Google Fiber installation in Brookhaven, by far. It also won’t be the last. While the myriad of complaints about landscaping is annoying and troublesome, the issues of one utility routinely hitting other utilities are dangerous and extremely disruptive. While Google Fiber has followed the law in regard to requesting utility markings, it just has not been enough. A huge factor in the number of hits has been the accuracy of the markings provided by the other existing utility locators.
I authorized the complete stop work order so we can assess the means and methods to ensure public safety and that unnecessary impacts to City residents are avoided moving forward. The problem with a complete stop work order is it stops everything. In addition to digging and boring, it also stops installation, testing, repair and clean up.”
In the statement, Park acknowledged that Google Fiber had remained attentive and responsive to the city’s concerns and there are discussions underway about minimizing impacts, and that all involved were making progress.
“In the spirit of this progress, and the safety around the job sites that are underway, the City of Brookhaven is allowing certain activities to continue while best practices moving forward are still being ironed out,” Park added.
As of Thursday, the mayor said installation activities will resume, sharing the following details:
- Google Fiber can resume all activities that are not associated with direction boring and/or digging of any kind (i.e., pulling cables, splicing, testing, restoration, with an emphasis on restoration).
- Directional boring and/or digging of any kind shall remain under the stop work order mandate until at least Monday, Jan.6, and the following conditions are met:
- The use of ground penetrating radar has proven to be successful in avoiding existing utilities and has been incorporated in operations.
- Improved coordination with other existing utilities has been established.
- The Brookhaven Public Works Director meets with Google Fiber and contractors to emphasize the need for a thorough utility review prior to digging.
- Additional information about the overall project is provided to the City of Brookhaven.
- Moving forward, GF shall submit for approval the areas where new directional bores and/or digging will take place. New areas will not be approved until prior areas have been completed and fully restored.
The mayor said Brookhaven does not have the authority to preclude the installation of Google Fiber as a utility, but they will use “every measure to ensure the health and safety of all Brookhaven residents and visitors as the installation proceeds.”
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