(COLORADO SPRINGS) — Recently a viewer contacted FOX21 News to express concerns about holes being dug in one Colorado Springs neighborhood, which appear to have been abandoned mid-project for several months. According to the viewer, who wished to remain anonymous, in December, crews excavated holes along the streets and in front of houses in the Pine Creek neighborhood on the north side of Colorado Springs. The viewer told FOX21 they had seen signs in the neighborhood indicating it was a fiber internet installation project. The holes, according to the viewer, have remained since, in some cases they said, leaving damage to landscaping and sprinkler lines, causing frustration and bewilderment among neighbors. Over the past few years, Colorado Springs has attracted the interest of multiple fiber cable network companies seeking to expand their services into the city. Ongoing construction projects by several companies are underway to install the required infrastructure and cables. FOX21 began investigating and reached out to the main companies involved in fiber internet installations in Colorado Springs including; Colorado Springs Utilities (Springs Utilities), Metronet, and Underline. We were able to obtain information from each company to understand the following: construction status, how to identify their work, and restoration commitments.
Colorado Springs Utilities
Construction status
According to a Springs Utilities spokesperson, construction of the fiber project is ongoing in the first build area between I-25 and Union Boulevard, and from Woodmen Road to Interquest Parkway. This first area is expected to be completed later this year. Construction is also underway in the third build area, from Union Boulevard, east to Powers Boulevard, and from Woodmen Road to Briargate Parkway. What was originally planned as the second build area, from I-25 west to the city’s boundary, and from Garden of the Gods Road north to the Air Force Academy, has run into construction delays and is now estimated to begin in 2025. Progress updates for the fiber construction projects can be viewed at the Springs Utilities website
here .
How to identify their work
Springs Utilities understands that with all of the fiber construction going on in the area, it can be confusing as to which company is working in a given location. Anyone doing a digging project within the city
is required to have the locations of nearby utility lines marked by Springs Utilities before digging, either with flags or spray paint. This can often give the impression that the project is being done by the utility company, whether or not it is true. After Springs Utilities installs the fiber network and infrastructure, companies like Ting will lease the network to offer high-speed internet to customers. However, Springs Utilities will retain ownership of the fiber lines.
Restoration commitment
Springs Utilities said they understand the importance of maintaining property integrity during and after fiber construction, and their commitment is to ensure that the landscape and property will be returned to their original condition.
Metronet
Construction status
According to Metronet’s website, in March of 2022, the company announced that it had invested $130 million to install fiber optic internet in Colorado Springs. Construction began soon after and it was estimated that the first customers would be connected later that year. Metronet announced in a
blog post on its website on May 25, 2023, that homeowners and businesses in initial construction areas of Colorado Springs now have access to its multi-gigabit fiber optic network. The company has not disclosed specific areas where construction is ongoing or completed. However, its
website offers the option to verify service availability in a given neighborhood.
How to identify their work
According to Metronet’s website, locals living in construction areas will receive 30 days advance notice by mail about work in their neighborhood as well as additional notifications, including yard signs. Whenever possible, crews will attempt to contact homeowners personally when construction is about to begin. Metronet vehicles are marked with the company logo, and crews wear identification tags for easy recognition of workers authorized to conduct construction in the neighborhood.
Restoration commitment
According to the Metronet
website , timelines for completion of construction can vary according to the size of the neighborhood, weather, and other variables. After construction is complete, Metronet will restore all disturbed property and will rake, seed, and straw lawns where construction occurred, so that landscaping can recover. When FOX21 News spoke to a representative at Metronet, they sent this statement: “At Metronet, we are so excited to bring ultra-fast internet service to Colorado Springs homes and businesses. But it’s a big construction project that may cause minor disturbances and inconveniences,” said Kris Smith, Metronet Regional Vice President. Smith continued by saying, “We encourage any resident who has a concern to submit a ticket through Metronet’s dedicated construction website at
Metronet.com/Construction or call (877) 386-3876. Our team is committed to responding to all inquiries within 24 hours to ensure a swift resolution. We’ll make it right.”
Underline
Construction Status
Underline was the first fiber internet company to enter El Paso County in 2020. According to an Underline spokesperson, they have completed the first phase of their construction, which laid cables and infrastructure in the downtown area and serves tens of thousands of customers. Underline is privately funded and doesn’t rely on taxpayer money for its installation. They are now halfway through the second phase, which expands the circumference of the area around downtown and doubles the size of the network. The second phase area stretches north from downtown to Garden of the Gods Road, to the east near the Colorado Springs Airport, to the west in Old Colorado City, and to the south near The Broadmoor. Additionally, Underline has a contract with the City of Fountain and is currently installing its privately-funded network in the city, including not only the fiber cables but substations as well.
How to identify their work
When Underline is about to begin construction in a neighborhood, they take several steps to inform the community of the upcoming impacts. The company will put out signs and distribute postcards with the company’s contact information, have sales teams go door to door, and host community information events. Trucks will also display the company logo and crews are clearly identified.
Restoration commitment
At this time, Underline’s network and construction do not reach as far north as Pine Creek, but Underline still wants people to be aware of what to expect from their construction process. According to the spokesperson, Underline is a strongly mission-based company and is highly motivated for customers to have a positive experience from beginning to end, and that includes the construction process. Crews are expected to finish repairing the landscaping before the work is considered to be completed. If anyone has questions or concerns about the construction process in their area, they are encouraged to email their client success team at
[email protected] or call customer service at (719) 223-7001, and they will respond quickly.
Resolving the issue
As FOX21 continued to investigate the holes in the Pine Creek neighborhood, it wasn’t immediately clear which company was responsible for them, however, all three companies have expressed a strong desire to resolve any issues or concerns community members have about abandoned construction or damages to property. Each company has urged individuals to contact them directly if they encounter any problems, allowing for prompt investigation and resolution.
