What is happening on Main Street? Astound began working on Main Street to install fiber internet in the first week of September and this work is scheduled to continue until the first week of November. The work on Main Street involves opening parts of the road and the sidewalk to install conduit, fiber lines, and utility vaults. Once the installation work is complete, Astound’s contractors will restore the affected areas to the same or better condition than before. Areas in the roadway will also be paved over by the City’s pavement contractor as part of the pavement management contract awarded by City Council in August. While astound is doing the work, they have put in temporary metal plates to allow the sidewalks and streets to stay in use. These plates are lined with cold patch asphalt to prevent pedestrian trip hazards. A detailed outline of the work is provided below:
- Sept 2- 13 - USA (DigAlert) markings, door notifications and pre-construction meetings started the first week, followed with increased construction area signs and no parking delineators posted in advance of work. The first two weeks were filled with on-site and advance work help to identifying potential conflicts and coordination with inspectors for the various agencies such as SoCal Gas, PG&E, City Utilities(sewer/water), businesses and residents impacted with work in front of their property.
- Sept 13 – 28 - Locations were walked and all parties agreed work to begin. Potholing (small test holes) were required to confirm utility line locations and any unforeseen conflicts or depth adjustments prior to beginning the bore work phase. This time between potholing and bore work is crucial and often governed by the complexity of underground infrastructure. In this case took approximately two weeks to complete. Once segments of the road were cleared boring began.
- Sept 21 - Oct 4 – 20 Bore pits and 17 new vault locations were outlined along Main Street. Pacific and Morro phases added to ensure downtown bore work completed in advance of City Pavement Resurfacing.
- Sept 23- Oct 11 – All but one crossing left to bore.
- Oct 14 – 25 – Roads ready for restoration
- Oct 7 – 25 – Vault installation and sidewalk restoration
- Oct 28- Nov 1 – Asphalt restoration complete
- Oct 25- Nov 8 – Sidewalk restoration complete
Why? Astound’s goal with the project is to provide the businesses and residents across town with a fiber internet connection. Fiber internet connections typically achieve faster internet speeds than other broadband services like cable. Astound installed fiber aerially (along utility poles) in most areas of town, but in some areas of town, such as Main Street where utilities are undergrounded, they had no choice but to install the fiber underground. City staff has heard from several residents and businesses who are eager to get a fiber internet connection.
What is the City’s role? Though this is not a City project, the work is being done within the City’s right-of-way, so Public Works Engineering must be involved daily in approving, permitting, monitoring, and inspecting a variety of aspects of the project. Public Works Engineering and Utilities staff have coordinated with Astound to find locations with the least possible conflicts with existing underground utilities for their borings. Public Works Staff receives daily reports from Astound’s contractor regarding their work on Main Street. Daily inspections that look at traffic control, signage, consistency in workmanship and end of day clean up by City staff help to ensure public safety is addressed daily. Staff has also been diligent in coordinating the work to occur prior to our pavement management project, which is anticipated to begin on October 28th. This way, the streets will not be torn up by Astound after the City’s pavement work begins. Additionally, Engineering has been in contact with other utilities, such as AT&T, to fix up their utility vaults in the sidewalk along Main Street.
Is Astound paying the City for this? Given the level of effort required by the City to facilitate Astound’s work in the public right-of-way, the City has charged Astound over $80k in permits over the last month.
Pavement Management Program- when will it start? While Souza was initially scheduled to begin work in September, they have now delayed their start date to 10/28, due to scheduling conflicts with a previously contracted project. Souza’s contractual 90-working day deadline to finish begins 10/14. Engineering staff is working with Souza on the work schedule to ensure the work gets done in a timely and responsible manner. Weather delays could extend the work schedule.