A new technique called microtrenching is being used by Union Wireless to install fiber to locations in Pinedale.
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A new technique called
microtrenching is being used by Union
Wireless to install fiber to locations in Pinedale.
A representative for Union Wireless requested
a rights-of-way permit to cut down
the center of Musket Street and Faler Avenue
during the Aug. 26 Pinedale Town
Council meeting.
All five council members were in attendance
including Mayor Matt Murdock,
Dean Loftus, Judi Boyce, Tyler Swafford
and John Paravicini.
The process uses a diamond saw to cut
through the asphalt about 12 inches off the
center of the streets. Once fiber is placed
in the 12-inch core, grout is used to fill in
around the fiber. After grout cures for about
10 days, the street is sealed.
The initial work was approved and began
earlier this week.
Murdock said the plan ties in fiber to key
areas of the community including the Pinedale
Clinic, schools, the Sublette Center
and Aspen Grove.
At the Sept. 3 Sublette County Commissioners’
meeting, permission was granted
to allow Union Wireless to cross county
property in the rights-of-way near the bike
path.
Union representative Tony Young said
microtrenching helps avoid the many utilities
already in place alongside the curbs.
He added, by going down the crown of the
streets, not in the sides where water drains
and would stand, long-term impacts to the
streets are minimized.
Initially used in southern states, Young
said Pinedale is a test case that is being
watched by other communities, including
Rock Springs and Saratoga.
The typical bond set to guarantee work
for adding utilities to rights-of-ways was
extended two years due to the new type of
installation.
Once sealed, he said the long-term maintenance
should be minimal.
In other actions, Sheriff K.C. Lehr reported
that additional speed signs used
on Pine Street to warn of special events
or to show drivers their speed compared
to posted speeds are considered “unwarranted”
by the Wyoming Department of
Transportation.
Lehr said they discussed the use of the
signs to draw attention to additional foot
traffic experienced in the summer months.
They do not fall within WYDOT rules and
regulations.
He recommended not taking action at
this time and to continue using the signs.
Swafford agreed, saying, “What are they
going to do? Write us a ticket?”
Swafford added WYDOT pays $40,000
annually to the town of Pinedale to maintain
the street through the community and
that doesn’t cover the annual expenses.
He added sarcastically that the town
could thank WYDOT for the small amount
of maintenance performed this year that basically
overfilled all of the potholes, turning
them into speed bumps.