Zion Canyon fiber project team briefs Orderville council; design complete, contractor hiring underway

Project engagement staff for the Zion Canyon Fiber Optics project presented design and implementation plans to the Orderville Town Council and residents, describing the work as a backbone installation that will fill gaps along State Route 9 and the Zion Mount Carmel Highway.

Nancy, a member of the project engagement team, and Ava Pecora (engagement team) said the project has completed required environmental clearance and that a contractor is being hired; until that contractor is under contract the project team cannot publish a firm start date or detailed work schedule. The presenters described the work through Zion National Park as constrained by federal guidelines and said crews will use moving work zones, limit work zones in the park to about 1,500 feet, and plan some nighttime closures near Mount Carmel Tunnel to manage splicing and traffic impacts.

Ava said the backbone will enable last‑mile providers and communities to connect to high‑speed fiber while maintaining existing local service options: "We're connecting all of that, and this is meant to be the backbone of fiber," she said. Project staff also listed expected benefits including improved communications for emergency services, traveler information and opportunities for telehealth and remote learning.

During Q&A, council members and residents asked about night work, splicing-related service interruptions, and whether the project will use existing South Central Communications conduit. Project staff said they will use all engagement platforms (website, email, a dedicated hotline) to provide construction and schedule updates and will return to the council once they have contractor schedules. A council member offered to act as a local point of contact to help circulate schedule updates with town staff.

No formal action was taken; the council asked staff to track the project schedule and escalate community questions to the project hotline.