Observer Online | Fiber Optic Upgrade Will Upturn Yards, Streets

Edition of February 11, 2005

Fiber Optic Upgrade Will Upturn Yards, Streets

By Erin E. Fogg

Observer Staff Writer

Verizon’s project to install fiber optic cable and bring high-speed voice and data service to Herndon will come at a cost of three months of digging in private property and disrupting some streets.

A local engineering manager for Verizon, Scott Sisk, said a contract crew will perform structural work, digging trenches or boring holes in streets and on private property. Verizon crews will follow with the new cables, with work in smaller neighborhoods expected to be completed in less than a week.

Sisk said he expects the process to take about three months and for fiber optic service to start by midsummer. The town requires Verizon to restore disrupted areas to “like condition,” he said. But with work beginning in the winter, it could be difficult to plant grass where needed, Sisk said, adding that Verizon will return in the spring to ensure all areas are restored.

Bob Boxer, Herndon’s director of public works, said some work will be in the public right-of-way but most will be on private property. The town’s main concern is how it will affect residents. It will notify residents two to five days before work begins on their streets.

Fiber optics will bring faster and more powerful service, including supporting streaming video and allowing up to four phone lines per household but requiring less maintenance than copper cables. “This service starts at a minimum of 5 megabytes, which is basically three times faster than what the town has now,” Sisk said.

Residents with complaints or concerns about the cable upgrade can call 1-800-768-8831.

Verizon plans this schedule of starting dates for cable-upgrade work in these areas of Herndon:

• Feb. 14Herndon Woods Ct., Virginia Ave., Fairfax Ln., Dakota Dr.

• Feb. 17Pride Ave., Jamie Cirone Way, Lions Pride Dr., Legacy Pride Dr., Marrisa Way

• Feb. 21Wood St., Spring St., Center St., Legacy Pride Dr., Pride Ave.

• Feb. 23Pine St., Station St., Park Ave., Jackson St., Madison St.

• Feb. 25Magnolia Ln., Wilshire Dr., Alabama Dr.

• March 1Clearwater Ct., Freshrain Ct., Alabama Ave., Wilshire Dr., Magnolia Ln., Dulles Ct., Dulles Pl., Broad Oaks Dr., Whitewater Pl.

• March 3Ferndale Ave., Locust St., Center St., Elden St., Center St., Vine St., Main St., Peachtree St.

• March 7Elder Ct., Botos Ct., Nicklaus Ct., Trevino Ln., Lopez Ln., Snead Pl., Stevenson Ln., Floyd Pl., Stevenson Ct., Casper Dr., Player Way, Whitwood Ct., Tway Ln., Stevenson Ct., Ferndale Ave., Herndon Pkwy.

• March 10Barton Oaks Pl., Park Ave., Jorss Pl., Ferndale Ave., Burwick Dr., Tyropani Ct., Wintrol Ct.

• March 14Grace St., Vine St., Elden St., Park Ave., Branch Dr.

• March 16Knight Ave., Charles St., Saber Ln., Queens Ct., Charles Ct., Knight Ln., Kings Ct., Station Park Ct., Cavalier Dr.

• March 18Van Buren St., Park Ave., Monroe St., 2nd St., 3rd. St., Charlton Pl., McDaniel Ct.

• March 22Grant St., Filmore St., Dranesville Rd., Park Ave., Tyler St., Third St., Moffet Forge Rd.

• March 24Grant St., Young Dairy Ct., Barker Hill Rd. Monrow St., Hidden Park Pl., Cooper Station Rd., Dominion Lodge Ln., Grant St.

• March 28Jenny Ann Ct., Iron Ridge Ct., 3rd St., Traper Crest Ct., Dranesville Rd.

• March 30Old Hunt way, Huntsman Pl., Crest Dr., Dranesville Rd., Third St., Royal Elm Ct., Bennett St., Coomber Ct., Thurber St., Philmont Dr., Ridgegate Dr., Judd Ct., Monroe St.

• April 4Worchester St., Merlins Ln., Dranesville Rd., Pembrook Ct., Windcroft Glen, Queens Row St., Trinity Gate St., Clarke St., Devon St., Bicksler Dr., Criton St., Cavendish St.

• April 6Worchester Ct., Pembrook St., Merlins Ln., Herford St., Bicksler Ct. Clark St., Montalto Dr., Devon St., Woodshire Ln., Asburn St.

• April 12Fillmore St., Dunbarton Ct., Colvin Ct., S. Gunnell Ct., N. Gunnell Ct., Asbunn St., Longview Pl., Madison Forest Blvd.

• April 14Cordwell way, Elden St., Herndon Pkwy, E. Maple Ave., Reneau Way.