Town’s 4G lines to be set
Farragut residents should expect to see some roadwork in the next couple of weeks as MCImetro Access Transmission Service LLC’s engineers begin installing underground conduits, to update 4G services for Verizon, along the Town’s right- of-way from McFee, Evans and Virtue roads, as well as Old Stage and McFee roads.
Farragut Municipal Planning Commission unanimously approved two underground fiber optic underground projects during its meeting Thursday, March 17.
The first project involves “installing 2-inch underground conduit using directional boring to a depth of 36 inches for telecommunication fiber from McFee Road, along the north side of Evans Road to Virtue Road and then along the west side of Virtue Road to the macro cellular site at 519 Virtue Road,” Town Community Development director Mark Shipley said.
“One reason for utility extension reviews and approval from the Planning Commission is to help ensure coordination with existing and/or future development,” he added. “This portion of Town will have additional roadway improvements in the future, and the applicant has met with staff representatives to discuss their project in relation to future Town projects that may overlap.
“This will help minimize conflicts and lessen unnecessary expenditures,” Shipley added.
“Are there any existing utilities buried now (on Evans Road)?” asked Vice Mayor Louise Povlin, who also serves as a Commissioner.
“I’m not sure; my guess there probably are,” Shipley answered. “There is an overhead line along the north side of Evans Road.”
“My concern is … about the 36 inches deep, but if we have any grading to smooth out anything whatever we have in a future project that may be there, that’s the problem,” Povlin said.
“But we would coordinate with the utilities whether we do the plan, so it’s just a matter of coordinating with them as well,” she added.
“At least we’ll have one utility where we know exactly where it’s at,” Shipley added.
Similarly, the company plans to install 4G underground and overhead telecommunication fiber conduit from Old Stage Road, along the east side of McFee Road to 340 McFee Road.
“From there, the fiber will be placed on existing overhead utility poles along the east side of McFee Road, then traverse to the utility poles on the west side of McFee Road south of Bridgemore Boulevard, and remain on the west side of McFee until intersecting with Boyd Station Road, where it will be bored for a short distance along Boyd Station Road and then under the railroad tract to Harvey Road,” Shipley said.
He added the project is multi-jurisdictional, extending into the Choto area outside Town limits.
“Since the vast majority of the Town portion of this project involves using existing underground conduit and overhead utility poles, the impact should be minimal,” Shipley said. “The subject to’s are pretty similar to the previous project.”
